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Definition of glyptodon
glyptodon
/ˈɡlɪptəˌdɑːn/
glyp · to · don
Plural:glyptodons
glyptodon Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
An extinct genus of large, heavily armored mammals of the family Glyptodontidae that lived during the Pleistocene epoch, natively inhabiting the Americas and closely related to modern armadillos.
Example
"Paleontologists discovered the massive, dome-shaped fossilized carapace of a glyptodon near a prehistoric riverbed in Argentina."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for glyptodonWord Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Greek words 'glyptos' (carved) and 'odōn' (tooth). The name was coined by Richard Owen in 1839 in reference to the deeply grooved, fluted structure of the animal's fossilized teeth.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Glyptodon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/glyptodon