allosaurus

noun

al·lo·sau·rus | \ ˌa-lə-ˈsȯr-əs

How to pronounce allosaurus (audio)

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Definition of allosaurus

: any of a genus (Allosaurus) of very large carnivorous North American theropod dinosaurs of the Late Jurassic period

History and Etymology for allosaurus

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, from allo- allo- + -saurus -saurus

Note: Genus name introduced by the American paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh (1831-99) in "Notice of New Dinosaurian Reptiles from the Jurassic Formation," The American Journal of Science and Arts, vol. 114 (3rd series, vol. 14) (Jul.-Dec., 1877), no. 84, pp. 514-16. The combining element allo- is apparently meant to represent its distinctness: "This genus may be distinguished from any known Dinosaurs by the vertebræ, which are peculiarly modified to ensure lightness" (p. 515).

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allostatic load

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The first known use of allosaurus was in 1886

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allosaurus

noun

all·o·sau·rus | \ ˌa-lə-ˈsȯr-əs

\

Kids Definition of allosaurus

: a large meat-eating dinosaur related to the tyrannosaur

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