T. rex

American  

[tee reks] / ˈti ˈreks /

noun

1. tyrannosaur.

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Usage

What is a T. rex? T. rex is short for Tyrannosaurus rex, a giant, meat-eating dinosaur that walked on two legs and had a long tail and a big head with sharp teeth (and, yes, two little arms). The name Tyrannosaurus rex comes from the Greek words tyranno (“tyrant”) and saurus (“lizard”) and the Latin word rex (“king”). So, Tyrannosaurus rex means something like “king of the tyrant lizards.” It is commonly called T. rex for short. The name is fitting: Tyrannosaurus rex is one of the largest land predators that has ever lived. It was the largest of the tyrannosaurs, reaching a length of 47 feet (14. 3 m) or more. People often list the T. rex as their favorite dinosaur, and its popularity has grown through many pop culture depictions, such as its appearances in the Jurassic Park series of movies and books. However, to be scientifically precise about it, the T. rex lived during the Late Cretaceous period, about 90–65 million years ago, around the end of the age of dinosaurs.

Etymology

Origin of T. rex

First recorded in 1980–85; abbreviation of Tyrannosaurus rex ( def. )

Example Sentences

The meat-eater was either a juvenile T rex or its relative, Nanotyrannus lancensis, a rare dwarf species whose existence is disputed.

From The Guardian • Jul. 17, 2019

After the T rex known as “Sue” was discovered by Black Hills in 1990, a dispute arose over its legal ownership.

From The Guardian • Jul. 17, 2019

It is an especially important T rex because of “all the debate about why the tiny little arms”, said Starrs, project manager in the museum’s office of exhibits.

From The Guardian • Jan. 1, 2019

One is clearly based on a triceratops, while another has a T rex look about it.

From The Guardian • Oct. 12, 2012

The Jurassic Park River Adventure plummets your boat past a snarly T rex and down a steep sluice to land with a cascading plop 80 ft. below.

From Time Magazine Archive