dinosaurs

1. Reptiles , now extinct, that were the dominant life form on Earth for many millions of years. The name dinosaur comes from the Greek words for “monstrous lizard.” Dinosaurs became extinct suddenly, about sixty-five million years ago. Scientists now believe that their extinction was caused by the impact of a large asteroid on the Earth.

Notes

Some dinosaurs were very large and had small brains — factors that may in part have led to their extinction. The term is often used to refer to something or someone that is antiquated and unable to adapt to change: “The old cavalry generals couldn't adjust to the use of tanks — they became dinosaurs.”

Some scientists believe that modern birds are the descendants of dinosaurs.

Commonly known dinosaurs include Tyrannosaurus rex , Brontosaurus , Stegosaurus, and Triceratops.

Example Sentences

Now, in the greatest age of science ever, Americans are debating whether Adam and Eve rode dinosaurs.

From The Daily Beast

Museums of natural history display the biggest meteorites, tallest dinosaurs, and millipedes with the most legs.

From The Daily Beast

Dinosaurs like Donald Sterling draw the ire of Americans, regardless of political affiliation or ideological tilt.

From The Daily Beast

She can reorganize her own molecules, make computers with her brain, talk to dinosaurs.

From The Daily Beast

The right people are on their side, the bigots are the dinosaurs.

From The Daily Beast

Many of these monsters were larger than the prehistoric dinosaurs which once roamed the earth.

From Project Gutenberg

To the east where the walls of the volcano had crumbled down was a vast swamp, a favorite feeding ground for the dinosaurs.

From Project Gutenberg

"Earth-shakers" was Guru's name for the dinosaurs and "squatting place" was his word for city.

From Project Gutenberg

The screams of the dinosaurs were louder, as if the great beasts were excited by the conflagration in the city of the Ogrum.

From Project Gutenberg

The herd of dinosaurs crossed the city, turned and swept along the edge of the bay.

From Project Gutenberg