Jurassic

[ joo-ras-ik ]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a period of the Mesozoic Epoch, occurring from 190 to 140 million years ago and characterized by an abundance of dinosaurs and the advent of birds and mammals.

noun

1. the Jurassic Period or System.

Jurassic

/ dʒʊˈræsɪk /

adjective

1. of, denoting, or formed in the second period of the Mesozoic era, between the Triassic and Cretaceous periods, lasting for 55 million years during which dinosaurs and ammonites flourished

noun

1. the Jurassic
   the Jurassic period or rock system

Jurassic

/ j-răs′ĭk /

1. The second and middle period of the Mesozoic Era, from about 208 to 144 million years ago. During this time the supercontinent Pangaea continued to split up and numerous shallow seas inundated the new continents. Dinosaurs were the dominant form of terrestrial animal life, and the earliest birds appeared. Marine life was dominated by ammonites and belemnites, and sponges, corals, bryozoa, and gastropods all flourished. Gymnosperms and cycads were the dominant land plants.
2. See Chart at geologic time

Other Words From

• post-Ju·rassic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Jurassic¹

First recorded in 1825–35; Jur(a) + -assic, suffix extracted from Triassic; compare French jurassique

Word History and Origins

Origin of Jurassic¹

C19: from French jurassique, after the Jura (Mountains)

Example Sentences

It’s the late Jurassic Period in the super continent of Laurasia, some 85 million years into the reign of the dinosaurs.

From Los Angeles Times

A house has been left teetering close to the edge of a crumbling cliff following significant rockfall along the Jurassic Coast.

From BBC

What’s even more interesting is to trace this ability through not just the mammal family but beyond, to reptiles and birds — and perhaps back as far as the Jurassic period.

From Salon

Before he died in 2008, Crichton was a prolific, bestselling author who wrote 25 novels that sold more than 250 million copies worldwide, 13 of which were made into films including “Jurassic Park.”

From Los Angeles Times

In this Jurassic period, the first mammals were gaining a foothold in the shadow of the dinosaurs.

From BBC