diplodocus

[ dih-plod-uh-kuhs ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural di·plod·o·cus·es.

a huge herbivorous dinosaur of the genus Diplodocus, from the Late Jurassic Epoch of western North America, growing to a length of about 87 feet (26.5 meters).

diplodocus

/ dɪˈplɒdəkəs; ˌdɪpləʊˈdəʊkəs /

any herbivorous quadrupedal late Jurassic dinosaur of the genus Diplodocus , characterized by a very long neck and tail and a total body length of 27 metres: suborder Sauropoda (sauropods)

diplodocus

/ dĭ-plŏd′ə-kəs /

A very large herbivorous dinosaur of the genus Diplodocus of the late Jurassic Period. Diplodocus had a long, slender neck and tail and a small head with peglike teeth, and could grow to nearly 27 m (90 ft) in length. Fossilized skin impressions show that it probably had dermal spines along its back. Diplodocus is one of the longest known sauropod dinosaurs.

First recorded in 1875–80; from New Latin, equivalent to diplo- diplo- + Greek dokós “beam, bar, shaft”

C19: from New Latin, from diplo- + Greek dokos beam

How does diplodocus compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

The fossil is similar in appearance to diplodocus, another long-necked herbivore that lived during the Late Jurassic.

The diplodocus, meanwhile, had been looking down upon the scene with half-bewildered apprehension.

The tricky Jarmuthians, however, mount their men on a diplodocus, a huge dinosaur some eighty-seven feet in length.

"Dip," he called the enormous skeleton, though its full name was Diplodocus.

The Diplodocus skull is widely different from the other two in size and proportions and in the characters of teeth.

This proved to be the previously unknown hind limb of the great dinosaur Diplodocus.

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