plesiosaur

[ plee-see-uh-sawr ]

noun

1. any marine reptile of the extinct genus Plesiosaurus, from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, having a small head, a long neck, four paddlelike limbs, and a short tail.

plesiosaur

/ ˈpliːsɪəˌsɔː /

noun

1. any of various extinct marine reptiles of the order Sauropterygia, esp any of the suborder Plesiosauria, of Jurassic and Cretaceous times, having a long neck, short tail, and paddle-like limbs See also ichthyosaur Compare dinosaur pterosaur

plesiosaur

/ plē′sē-ə-sôr′ /

1. Any of various large, extinct marine reptiles of the genus Plesiosaurus and related genera of the Mesozoic Era. Most plesiosaurs had a small head on a long neck and a broad body with paddlelike limbs; one group had a large head on a short neck. The exact relationship between plesiosaurs and other reptiles is not known.

Other Words From

• plesi·o·sauroid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plesiosaur¹

< New Latin Plesiosaurus (1821), equivalent to Greek plēsí ( os ) near, close to + -o- -o- + saûros -saur; originally so named because of its conjectured nearness to modern reptiles, relative to the ichthyosaurs

Word History and Origins

Origin of plesiosaur¹

C19: from New Latin plēsiosaurus, from Greek plēsios near + sauros a lizard

Example Sentences

With broad bodies and often lanky necks, plesiosaurs didn’t look like swift swimmers.

From Science News For Students

The Plesiosaur, on the other hand, had a small and delicate head, with slender teeth and small eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

In the popular mind, perhaps, the Ichthyosaur and Plesiosaur are the typical representatives of that extinct race.

From Project Gutenberg

He might draw the line at a white plesiosaur riding up to meet his catamaran.

From Project Gutenberg