brontosaurus

noun

bron·​to·​sau·​rus ˌbrän-tə-ˈsȯr-əs 

variants or less commonly brontosaur

ˈbrän-tə-ˌsȯr 

: any of a genus (Apatosaurus) of very large sauropod dinosaurs of the Late Jurassic : apatosaurus

Note: The name brontosaurus continues to be commonly used for these dinosaurs even though their former genus name (Brontosaurus) is considered invalid.

Examples of brontosaurus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Within a matter of moments, the two of them were fighting each other in the city room like a stegosaurus and a brontosaurus in some sort of Jurassic Park scenario. —Frank Digiacomo, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024

Here’s how cute rom-coms were in the 1930s: The entire plot rests on a dog burying the bone of a brontosaurus. —Vogue, 10 Sep. 2024

This cute dino backpack features brontosauruses, stegosauruses, and more. —Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 24 June 2024

However, special considerations must be made for a brontosaurus who trashes London in the climax of the 1925 silent film The Lost World. —James Grebey, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek brontē thunder + sauros lizard; akin to Greek bremein to roar

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for brontosaurus

• polyporus
• authorise
• clitoris
• liquorice
• prioress
• pylorus
• thesaurus
• chloris
• chorus
• horus
• lores
• morrice

Kids Definition

brontosaurus

noun

bron·​to·​sau·​rus ˌbränt-ə-ˈsȯr-əs 

variants also brontosaur

ˈbränt-ə-ˌsȯ(ə)r 

: any of several very large four-footed plant-eating dinosaurs

Etymology

derived from Greek brontē "thunder" and Greek sauros "lizard"