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Definition of glyptodon

glyptodon

/ˈɡlɪptəˌdɑːn/
glyp · to · don
Plural:glyptodons
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glyptodon Lexical Profile

• 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 glyptodon

• Nearby Words

glycerin
glymur
glyph
glyptodon
gnarl
gnarled
gnarly

Word 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 Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/glyptodon
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