rex

noun \ ˈreks \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of rex

plural rexes or rex

: an animal (such as a domestic rabbit or cat) showing a genetic recessive variation in which the guard hairs are very short, sparse, or entirely lacking — compare cornish rex, devon rex

Recent Examples of rex from the Web

The 24-foot animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex at the Canon City, Colorado, Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience used to move its little arms and roar.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "Animatronic T-Rex at Colorado theme park goes ‘extinct’ in suspected electrical blaze | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 23 Mar. 2018
First a Tyrannosaurus rex appeared on the table, followed by a velociraptor and a stegosaurus.

— kate elizabeth queram, Howard County Times, "In a Howard County classroom, dinosaurs, chariots and tornadoes become lifelike," 30 Mar. 2018
Looking for an 8-foot-tall sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus rex?

— marc stirdivant, latimes.com, "There's more to Carpinteria than choppy surf and blowing sand on a spring weekend escape," 29 Mar. 2018
Along the way kids and adults will enjoy cast dinosaur skeletons molded from the real thing, including a carnivorous Albertosaurus and its Ceratops prey and a Tyrannosaurus rex skull.

— matt campbell, kansascity, "See Kansas Pteranodon and other dinosaurs at new Museum at Prairiefire exhibit | The Kansas City Star," 8 Mar. 2018
Originally, our first Spinosaurus was on two feet, like the T-rex.

— chris varias, Cincinnati.com, "Take the kids to see dinosaurs this weekend," 25 Jan. 2018
There were stegosauruses, apatosauruses, a T-rex, but the parasaurolophus, in all its weird glory, was always my favorite.

— katherine clover, The Cut, "The Silly Tattoo That Got Me Through My Worst Breakup," 15 Feb. 2018
There are also tracks of four theropods — relatives of the Tyrannosaurus rex that lived tens of millions of years later, but these were smaller, roughly the size of a large raven.

— kenneth chang, New York Times, "Where NASA Put a Parking Lot, Dinosaurs and Mammals Once Crossed Paths," 31 Jan. 2018
The whole company took the loss pretty hard, Adam says, and for now no new additions are planned - even the 40-foot T. rex that never made it past Lee's drafting table.

— chris gray, Houston Chronicle, "Metal menagerie off Texas 288 springs from the mind of art-loving owner of Texas Pipe & Supply," 3 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rex.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of rex

Origin and Etymology of rex

modification of French castorrex, castorex, a variety of rabbit, perhaps from Latin castor beaver + rex king — more at castor, royal

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1920

in the meaning defined above

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Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

rex

Latin noun \ ˈreks \

Definition of rex

: king

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

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rex

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