archosaur

[ ahr-kuh-sawr ]

noun

1. any reptile of the subclass Archosauria, including the dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and crocodilians and characterized by two pairs of openings in the temporal region of the skull.

archosaur

/ är′kə-sôr′ /

1. Any of various mostly reptilian animals of the subclass Archosauria. Archosaurs are diapsids that began to evolve in the late Permian Period, and are characterized by skulls with long, narrow snouts and teeth set in sockets. Archosaurs include the extinct dinosaurs and pterosaurs and the modern crocodilians and birds.

Other Words From

• archo·sauri·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of archosaur¹

1965–70; < New Latin Archosaurus, taken as singular of Archosauria, equivalent to Greek archo-, combining form of archós ruler, chief + saûr ( os ) -saur + New Latin -ia -ia