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Definition of oviraptor
oviraptor
/ˌoʊvəˈræptər/
o · vi · rap · tor
Plural:oviraptors
oviraptor Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
6
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
oviraptor Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A genus of small, bird-like, omnivorous theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period, characterized by a short, beak-like snout and originally discovered in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia.
Example
"The museum exhibited a remarkably preserved skeleton of an oviraptor positioned over a clutch of eggs, demonstrating its bird-like brooding behavior."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for oviraptorWord Nuance & Usage
The name translates to 'egg thief,' a historical misnomer given by early paleontologists who mistakenly believed the dinosaur was stealing eggs, whereas later evidence revealed it was actually brooding its own nest.
• Rhymes for oviraptor
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 1924 by paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn from Latin 'ovum' (egg) and 'raptor' (thief or seizer).
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Oviraptor. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/oviraptor