ˌkarēˈamə noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Portuguese, seriema, modification of Tupi çariama — more at seriema
1. capitalized : a genus of long-legged So. American birds (order Gruiformes) having as sole recent representative the Brazilian cariama
2. -s : a bird ( Cariama cristata ) of southern Brazil or a closely related bird ( Chunga burmeisteri ) of northern Argentina, both being large long-legged birds with short wings and limited powers of flight that feed on berries, insects, and to some extent snakes and lizards and that are usually regarded as related to the cranes and bustards though formerly sometimes included with the birds of prey — called also seriema ; see chunga , crested cariama