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Cretaceous

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

cretaceous

Main Entry:: Cre·ta·ceous
Pronunciation:: \kri-ˈtā-shəs\
Function:: adjective
Etymology:: Latin cretaceus resembling chalk, from creta chalk
Date:: 1832

: of, relating to, or being the last period of the Mesozoic era characterized by continued dominance of reptiles, emergent dominance of angiosperms, diversification of mammals, and the extinction of many types of organisms at the close of the period ; also : of, relating to, or being the corresponding system of rocks — see geologic time table

— Cretaceous noun

Learn more about "Cretaceous" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "Cretaceous" in the Visual Thesaurus

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