diplodocus

[ dih-plod-uh-kuhs ]

/ dɪˈplɒd ə kəs /

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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).

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Origin of diplodocus

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

Words nearby diplodocus

diplobiont, diploblastic, diplocardiac, Diplock court, diplococcus, diplodocus, diploë, diploid, diploidy, diploma, diplomacy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use diplodocus in a sentence

The fossil is similar in appearance to diplodocus, another long-necked herbivore that lived during the Late Jurassic.
Even dinosaurs couldn’t escape the sniffles|Kate Baggaley|February 11, 2022|Popular-Science
The diplodocus, meanwhile, had been looking down upon the scene with half-bewildered apprehension.
In the Morning of Time|Charles G. D. Roberts
The tricky Jarmuthians, however, mount their men on a diplodocus, a huge dinosaur some eighty-seven feet in length.
Astounding Stories, March, 1931|Various
"Dip," he called the enormous skeleton, though its full name was Diplodocus.
Jerry's Charge Account|Hazel Hutchins Wilson

The Diplodocus skull is widely different from the other two in size and proportions and in the characters of teeth.
Dinosaurs|William Diller Matthew
This proved to be the previously unknown hind limb of the great dinosaur Diplodocus.
Dinosaurs|William Diller Matthew

British Dictionary definitions for diplodocus

diplodocus

/ (dɪˈplɒdəkəs, ˌdɪpləʊˈdəʊkəs) /

noun plural -cuses

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)

Word Origin for diplodocus

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for diplodocus

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.