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Definition of hypsilophodon

hypsilophodon

/ˌhɪp.sɪˈlɑː.fəˌdɑːn/
hyp · si · loph · o · don
Plural:hypsilophodons
•
Adjective:hypsilophodont
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hypsilophodon Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A small, fast-moving, bipedal herbivorous dinosaur of the Early Cretaceous period, originally discovered in England and characterized by its distinctively ridged teeth and beak.

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hypsilophodon

• Nearby Words

hypothetical
hypothetically
hypoxis
hypsilophodon
hyrax
hyssop
hysterectomy

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1869 by English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley from the Greek elements 'hypsi-' (high), 'lophos' (crest), and 'odous' (tooth), referring to the animal's distinctively ridged teeth.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hypsilophodon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hypsilophodon
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