pterodactyl
Use Pterodactyl in a sentence
əˈdæk noun
any of a number of genera of flying reptiles of the extinct order Pterosauria, from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, having a highly reduced tail and teeth and a birdlike beak.
Origin:
1820–30; < Neo-Latin Pterodactylus genus name, equivalent to Greek pteró(n) wing + -daktylos -dactylous
1820–30; < Neo-Latin Pterodactylus genus name, equivalent to Greek pteró(n) wing + -daktylos -dactylous
Related forms
pter·o·dac·tyl·ic, pter·o·dac·tyl·ous, adjective
pter·o·dac·tyl·id, adjective, noun
pter·o·dac·tyl·oid, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To pterodactyl
Collins
World English Dictionary
pterodactyl (ˌtɛrəˈdæktɪl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| See also pterosaur any extinct flying reptile of the genus Pterodactylus and related genera, having membranous wings supported on an elongated fourth digit | |
| [C19: from | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10
Pterodactyl
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Etymonline
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
pterodactyl  (těr'ə-dāk'təl) Pronunciation Key
(click for larger image in new window) Any of various small, extinct flying reptiles (pterosaurs) of the genus Pterodactylus of the late Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. Pterodactyls had long, narrow jaws with sharp teeth, and a wingspan of 1 m (3.3 ft) or less. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
It's almost prehistoric, something you imagine a pterodactyl would make.
The evolutionary life of the nation-state will turn out to be far shorter than that of the pterodactyl.
Its large form was unmistakable, reminiscent of a pterodactyl.
The same could be said for bat wings, bird wings, and pterodactyl wings.
Nearby Words
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