Cretaceous
adjective
Cre·ta·ceous
kri-ˈtā-shəs 
: 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
Examples of Cretaceous in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Permian period spanned nearly fifty million years, the Cretaceous period eighty million.
—
Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2024
The dinosaur existed in the last age of the Cretaceous period known as Maastrichtian, researchers said in the CONICET release.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
The Ceratosaurus is one of six dinosaurs in the Camp Cretaceous collection, which includes a T. rex, a Baryonyx, Ankylosaurus, and others.
—Ashley Ziegler, Parents, 13 Apr. 2024
Based on genetic analyses of different beetle lineages, McKenna and his colleagues have found evidence that a major factor spurring beetle diversity was the diversification of flowering plants during the Cretaceous period.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024
For example, paleontologists discovered a sea turtle fossil in Colombia dating back at least 120 million years ago to the Cretaceous; meanwhile Odontochelys semitestacea, a fossil discovered in China, is a near-turtle relative dating back 220 million years ago.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
That means Cretaceous dinosaurs experienced a planet with 372 days in each year.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024
The large theropod roamed what is now known as the northern part of Africa during the Cretaceous period.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024
But the Tyrannosaurus-Rex may not have been the only large carnivore ruling over North America during the Late Cretaceous period.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2024
The dinosaur existed in the last age of the Cretaceous period known as Maastrichtian, researchers said in the CONICET release.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
The Ceratosaurus is one of six dinosaurs in the Camp Cretaceous collection, which includes a T. rex, a Baryonyx, Ankylosaurus, and others.
—Ashley Ziegler, Parents, 13 Apr. 2024
Based on genetic analyses of different beetle lineages, McKenna and his colleagues have found evidence that a major factor spurring beetle diversity was the diversification of flowering plants during the Cretaceous period.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024
For example, paleontologists discovered a sea turtle fossil in Colombia dating back at least 120 million years ago to the Cretaceous; meanwhile Odontochelys semitestacea, a fossil discovered in China, is a near-turtle relative dating back 220 million years ago.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
That means Cretaceous dinosaurs experienced a planet with 372 days in each year.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024
The large theropod roamed what is now known as the northern part of Africa during the Cretaceous period.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024
But the Tyrannosaurus-Rex may not have been the only large carnivore ruling over North America during the Late Cretaceous period.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Cretaceous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near Cretaceous
Cite this Entry
“Cretaceous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cretaceous. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Cretaceous
adjective
Cre·ta·ceous
kri-ˈtā-shəs
: of, relating to, or being the last period of the Mesozoic era of geological history marked by the extinction of the dinosaurs at the close of the period
also
: relating to the corresponding system of rocks see geologic time
Cretaceous
noun
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