sauropod
Americannoun
adjective
noun
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One of the two types of saurischian dinosaurs, widespread during the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. Sauropods were plant-eaters and often grew to tremendous size, having a stout body with thick legs, long slender necks with a small head, and long tails. Sauropods included the apatosaurus (brontosaurus) and brachiosaurus.
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Compare theropod
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sauropod
1890–95; < New Latin Sauropoda suborder name < Greek saûro ( s ) lizard + -poda -poda; cf. -pod
Vocabulary lists containing sauropod
Paleontology: Dinosaurs - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
By lifting the front of the body into the air, a sauropod would have appeared even larger and more threatening to approaching predators.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026
"But depending on where in time the Megalosaurus is on that trackway at the point where the sauropod put its foot down, it could very easily be explained by Megalosaurus coming up behind it."
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
Nichols suggested this showed the sauropod had stopped and leant on one leg for a moment "as if it's looking back over its left shoulder".
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
Researchers classified Nagatitan as a somphospondylan sauropod, a branch of sauropods that spread widely around 120 million years ago.
From Science Daily ● May 15, 2026
A sauropod ferry passed, heading south toward the bay, crates trailing along on a barge behind it.
From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
