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Definition of pterosaur

pterosaur

/ˈtɛr.əˌsɔːr/
pter · o · saur
Plural:pterosaurs
•
Adjective:pterosaurian
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pterosaur Lexical Profile

pterosaur Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various extinct flying reptiles of the order Pterosauria, existing from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous period, characterized by wings formed by a membranous flap of skin stretched from an elongated fourth finger to the hind limb.

Example

"Paleontologists recently unearthed the remarkably preserved skull of a massive pterosaur in South America."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for pterosaur

Word Nuance & Usage

Although frequently referred to in popular culture as 'flying dinosaurs,' pterosaurs were biologically a distinct group of reptiles that evolved powered flight entirely separately from both dinosaurs and modern birds.

• Nearby Words

pteranodon
pterocephalus
pterodactyl
pterosaur
ptyx
pudding
puddle

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century from Modern Latin 'Pterosauria', derived from the Greek 'pteron' (wing) and 'sauros' (lizard).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pterosaur. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 21, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pterosaur
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