dinosaur

American  

[dahy-nuh-sawr] / ˈdaɪ nəˌsɔr /

noun

1. any chiefly terrestrial, herbivorous or carnivorous reptile of the extinct orders Saurischia and Ornithischia, from the Mesozoic Era, certain species of which are the largest known land animals.

2. something that is unwieldy in size, anachronistically outmoded, or unable to adapt to change.

   The old steel mill was a dinosaur that cost the company millions to operate.

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dinosaur British  

/ ˈdaɪnəˌsɔː /

noun

1. any extinct terrestrial reptile of the orders Saurischia and Ornithischia, many of which were of gigantic size and abundant in the Mesozoic era See also saurischian ornithischian Compare pterosaur plesiosaur

2. a person or thing that is considered to be out of date

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Other Word Forms

• dinosaurian adjective

Etymology

Origin of dinosaur

< New Latin Dinosaurus (1841), originally a genus name. See dino-, -saur

Example Sentences

The Hațeg Basin in Transylvania has long been known around the world for its dinosaur fossils, uncovered at dozens of sites over the last hundred years.

From Science Daily

When Arco steals his older sister’s magical rainbow cloak to return in time to see dinosaurs, he messes up and instead lands back in 2075.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead of focusing on surrounding minerals or skeletal remains, Dr. Tucker and his colleagues turned their attention to fossilized dinosaur eggshells.

From Science Daily

These discoveries cover an astonishing sweep of life on Earth, including dinosaurs, mammals, fishes, reptiles, insects, arachnids, marine invertebrates, and even a mineral never documented before.

From Science Daily

This stands in contrast to famous sites like the Chicxulub crater near Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, which is directly linked to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• antiquated
• archaic
• out-of-date
• outmoded