coprolite

noun

cop·​ro·​lite ˈkä-prə-ˌlīt How to pronounce coprolite (audio)
: fossilized excrement
coprolitic adjective

Examples of coprolite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The study looked at the coprolites from two pre-Columbian cultures called the Huecoid and Saladoid. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Oct. 2023 The coprolite is shaped like a cylinder and more than 2.7 inches long. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Aug. 2023 Roundworms remain a major health concern for humans, and the little coprolite revealed that the nematode has a long history. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 9 Aug. 2023 Their goal was to see inside the coprolite, a rare soft material preserved by fossilization. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 9 Aug. 2023 Within the thin sections of coprolite, the team found six small, round, organic structures roughly between only 50 to 150 micrometers long. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Aug. 2023 Named for the paleontologist who discovered the T. rex, Barnum Brown, the piece of coprolite — as fossilized poop is called — is on display at the Orlando Science Center with more specimens from the Poozeum, the world’s largest collection of coprolite, owned by George Frandsen of Jacksonville. Trevor Fraser, orlandosentinel.com, 13 Oct. 2021 Enlarge / Human coprolite (preserved human feces) from Durrington Walls, a Neolithic settlement near Stonehenge. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 May 2022 Besides the discovery of the beetles in a coprolite, the scientific name also refers to the Triassic period, which lasted from roughly 252 million to 201 million years ago, and the suborder of bugs called Myxophaga -- small aquatic or semiaquatic beetles that eat algae. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 2 July 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coprolite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coprolite was in 1829

Dictionary Entries Near coprolite

Cite this Entry

“Coprolite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coprolite. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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