Langimage
English

dinosaur

|di/no/saur|

B2

🇺🇸

/ˈdaɪnəˌsɔr/

🇬🇧

/ˈdaɪnəsɔː/

prehistoric reptile

Etymology
Etymology Information

'dinosaur' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'deinos' meaning 'terrible' and 'sauros' meaning 'lizard'.

Historical Evolution

'deinos' and 'sauros' combined in the 19th century to form the modern English word 'dinosaur'.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it referred to 'terrible lizards', but now it also refers to anything outdated.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a group of reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic era, known for their large size and diverse forms.

The museum has a fascinating exhibit on dinosaurs.

Synonyms

Noun 2

a person or thing that is outdated or has become obsolete.

Some people consider typewriters to be dinosaurs in the digital age.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45