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Definition of velociraptor

velociraptor

/vəˌlɑː.səˈræp.tɚ/
ve · loc · i · rap · tor
Plural:velociraptors
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velociraptor Lexical Profile

velociraptor Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A genus of small, bipedal, feathered theropod dinosaurs that lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous epoch, characterized by a long tail, an enlarged sickle-shaped claw on each hindfoot, and a relatively large brain.

Synonyms
View all synonyms for velociraptor

Word Nuance & Usage

Popular culture historically depicted the velociraptor as a massive, scaly predator, but paleontological consensus confirms it was roughly the size of a turkey and heavily feathered.

• Rhymes for velociraptor

• Nearby Words

vellozia
velloziaceous
vellum
velociraptor
velocity
velodrome
velour

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1924 by American paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn, derived from the Latin words 'velox' (swift) and 'raptor' (robber or plunderer).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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