Random Image

You are here: Random Image > Words beginning with r > Random Image for riven

Possible definitions for riven

raven
Any of several species (genus Corvus, crow family Corvidae) of heavy-billed, usually solitary, songbirds, once abundant throughout the Northern Hemisphere but now restricted to undisturbed areas. The common raven (C. corax), the biggest passerine, grows to 26 in. (66 cm) long and has a wingspan of more than 4 ft (1.3 m). The dark, iridescent plumage is shaggy, especially around the throat. Ravens eat rodents, insects, grain, birds' eggs, and, in winter, carrion and refuse. Captive nestlings may learn to mimic a few words. The large nest, a crude structure of sticks, is built high on a cliff or treetop.


river
Natural stream of water that flows in a channel with more or less defined banks. Rivers are a fundamental link in the hydrologic cycle, and they play a major role in shaping the surface features of the earth. Even apparently arid desert regions are greatly influenced by river action when periodic floodwaters surge down usually dry watercourses. River flow is sustained by the difference between water input and output. Rivers are fed by overland runoff, groundwater seepage, and meltwater released along the edges of snowfields and glaciers. Direct precipitation contributes only very small amounts of water. Losses of river water result from percolation into porous and permeable rock, gravel, or sand; evaporation; and ultimately outflow into the ocean.


civet
Any of 15-20 species of long-bodied, short-legged carnivores (family Viverridae) found in Africa, S Europe, and Asia. Catlike in appearance, civets have a thickly furred tail, small ears, and pointed snout. Civets are commonly buff or grayish, with black spots or stripes or both. They range in length from 16 to 34 in. (40-85 cm), excluding the 5-26-in. (13-66-cm) tail, and in weight from 3.3 to 24 lbs (1.5-11 kg). Civets mark territories with a greasy, musklike secretion (called civet) stored in a pouch under the tail; civet is sometimes used in the manufacture of perfumes. Usually solitary, civets feed on small animals and on vegetable matter. Five species are considered in possible danger of extinction.


diving
Sport of plunging into water, usually headfirst and often following the performance of one or more acrobatic maneuvers (such as flexing or somersaulting). It emerged as a competitive sport in the late 19th cent. and became part of the Olympic Games in 1904. Dives are performed from a firm platform 5 or 10 m (16.4 or 32.8 ft) above the water, or from an elastic springboard 1 or 3 m (3.3 or 9.8 ft) above the water. In Olympic contests, only the 10-m platform and 3-m springboard are used. Contestants are required to do certain dives, each rated according to its degree of difficulty, as well as dives of their own choice. Judges score each dive, and the total score is multiplied by the degree of difficulty.


drive
In psychology, an urgent need pressing for satisfaction, usually rooted in some ...

Top words beginning with R: recapitulationist, reccy, reaccommodated, redbugs, rateless, reedless, racetrack, rays, reunions, redeemability, reheeled, ranger, rufotestaceous, recontracts, relinking, rehabilitating, rapped, rarefy, ratsnake, relique

More words beginning with R.

Browse the alphabet: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z