Meaning & Definition of word "Dinosaur"
Dinosaur
/ˈdaɪ.nə.sɔːr/
noun:
- 1. A diverse group of reptiles that first appeared during the Late Triassic period, often characterized by their large size and varied forms, some of which were herbivorous and others were carnivorous.
- Example: The museum has an impressive skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex, one of the most famous dinosaurs.
- 2. Informally, a person or thing that is outdated or has become irrelevant.
- Example: He is considered a dinosaur in the tech industry, resistant to change and new ideas.
- 3. Any of a group of large, extinct reptiles of the clade Dinosauria.
- Example: Paleontologists discover new species of dinosaurs every year that expand our understanding of prehistoric life.
Etymology
●From Greek 'deinos' (terrible) and 'sauros' (lizard or reptile).
Common Phrases and Expressions
dinosaur in the room:
A significant problem that is ignored or unaddressed.
dinosaur technology:
Outdated or obsolete technology.
Related Words
paleontology:
The branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants.
extinction:
The state or process of a species, family, or larger group being or becoming extinct.
reptile:
A class of animals characterized by scaly skin and laying eggs.
Slang Meanings of dinosaur
Meaning: An outdated person or system.
● Example Sentence: He's still using floppy disks; what a dinosaur!
Meaning: Someone or something that is old-fashioned.
● Example Sentence: Her ideas about marketing are so dinosaur.