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Definition of uintatherium
uintatherium
/ˌjuːɪntəˈθɪəriəm/
U · in · ta · the · ri · um
Plural:uintatheria
uintatherium Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American An extinct genus of large, rhinoceros-like herbivorous mammals from the Eocene epoch, natively inhabiting North America and characterized by a bizarre skull bearing three pairs of bony, horn-like protuberances and enlarged, saber-like upper canine teeth.
Example
"Paleontologists carefully excavated the skull of a uintatherium, immediately recognizing the species by its distinctive six bony cranial knobs."
• Rhymes for uintatherium
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 1872 by American paleontologist Joseph Leidy, derived from the Uinta Mountains in Utah where the first fossils were discovered, combined with the Latinized Greek suffix '-therium' meaning 'beast'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Uintatherium. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/uintatherium