triceratops

[ trahy-ser-uh-tops ]

noun

1. any of various dinosaurs of the genus Triceratops, of the late Cretaceous Period, having a bony crest on the neck, a long horn over each eye, and a shorter horn on the nose.

triceratops

/ traɪˈsɛrəˌtɒps /

noun

1. any rhinoceros-like herbivorous dinosaur of the ornithischian genus Triceratops, of Cretaceous times, having a heavily armoured neck and three horns on the skull

triceratops

/ trī-sĕr′ə-tŏps′ /

1. A large herbivorous dinosaur of the genus Triceratops of the late Cretaceous Period, measuring up to 7.6 m (25 ft) in length. Triceratops had a squat, tanklike body, a beaklike mouth with a short horn over it, and a long horn over each eye. The back of its neck was covered with a wide, bony plate.

Word History and Origins

Origin of triceratops¹

First recorded in 1890–95; from New Latin, from Greek trikérat(os) “three-horned” + ṓps “face, eye”; tri-, cerat-, eye

Word History and Origins

Origin of triceratops¹

C19: from New Latin, from tri- + Greek kerat-, keras horn + ōps eye

Example Sentences

“I would venture to say I’m still obsessed,” he says, making his way toward a massive triceratops skull nearby.

From Los Angeles Times

“Another hadrosaur toe, another triceratops vertebra. Other than statistical appearance in the formation, there’s zero scientific value.”

From New York Times

County Natural History Museum, to make sure: The Gold State Coach, 29 feet long, 12 feet high, weighing four tons, is approximately like having a gilded triceratops mounted on wheels and rolled down London streets.

From Los Angeles Times

About 74 million years ago, the now-arid landscape of northwestern New Mexico was covered with jungles and marshes that bordered a warm sea — and roamed by a massive horned dinosaur related to triceratops.

From Washington Post

I was mostly there until Daemon nuzzled his on his way out of town, which evoked the sick triceratops in “Jurassic Park,” from 29 years ago.

From New York Times