Showing results for "T. rex"

• a variation of Tyrannosaurus rex.

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

Because the approach is supported by strong statistical evidence, it could influence how scientists examine fossils in future studies, not only for T. rex but for many other dinosaur species as well.

From Science Daily • Jun. 22, 2026

Kids get older; a plastic T. rex stays the same age range.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026

The holotype specimen for T. rex is currently displayed at the Perot Museum in Dallas.

From Science Daily • May 23, 2026

Using this system, T. rex ranked as the most robust skull in the study.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2026

It was like the scene in Jurassic Park when the children turn and the T. rex is right there.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah