ornithopod

noun

or·​nith·​o·​pod ȯr-ˈni-thə-ˌpäd How to pronounce ornithopod (audio) ˈȯr-ni-thə- How to pronounce ornithopod (audio)
: any of a suborder (Ornithopoda) of bipedal ornithischian dinosaurs (such as a hadrosaur) with digitigrade walking limbs usually having only three functional toes

Examples of ornithopod in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Inside the stomach of the 2.5 meter-long crocodile, scientists identified the partly digested remnants of a young ornithopod, according to a paper naming the new species published in the scientific journal Gondwana Research on February 11. Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 14 Feb. 2022 Pentland said that the Winton area, which is now comprised of sheep and cattle farms, was full of long-necked sauropods, carnivorous theropods (including T. rex), ankylosaurs, ornithopods, as well as pterosaurs. Fox News, 3 Oct. 2019 The museum holds Australia’s largest opalized dinosaur skeleton, a portion of an ornithopod’s spine, skull, limbs and ribs, still partly encased in clay. Michelle Innis, New York Times, 5 July 2016 Two limb bones — one from a subadult ornithopod dinosaur, and the other from a juvenile ornithopod dinosaur — show tooth marks. Brian Switek, WIRED, 2 Mar. 2012

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

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek ornith- + pod-, pous foot — more at foot

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ornithopod was circa 1889

Dictionary Entries Near ornithopod

Cite this Entry

“Ornithopod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornithopod. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

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