dinosaur

di-no-saur · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A large extinct reptile of the Mesozoic Era, often characterized by great size.

  2. 2.

    A person or thing that is outdated or resistant to change.

  3. 3.

    Something that is obsolete or has failed to adapt to new conditions.

Forms

plural: dinosaurs

Related words

See also: extinct, fossil, prehistoric, reptile
Synonyms: dino, prehistoric reptile

Etymology

Coined in 1841 by English paleontologist Richard Owen from Greek deinos meaning "terrible, fearfully great" and sauros meaning "lizard." The term was created to describe the large fossilized reptiles being discovered at the time.