pterosaur

noun

ptero·​saur ˈter-ə-ˌsȯr 

: any of an order (Pterosauria) of extinct flying reptiles existing from the Late Triassic throughout the Jurassic and most of the Cretaceous and having a featherless wing membrane extending from the side of the body along the arm to the end of the greatly elongated fourth digit

Examples of pterosaur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In contrast, scientists have found only fragments, such as skulls or limbs, of larger adult pterosaurs. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025

Rare pterosaur babies found In a new study in Current Biology, University of Leicester paleontologists cracked open a new window onto the ferocious past. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2025

One pterosaur had a fractured right wing bone; the other had a broken left wing. —Mindy Weisberger, Scientific American, 5 Sep. 2025

Recently, the zoo introduced a Dinosaur Safari with life-size animatronic dinosaurs and pterosaurs. —Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Pterosauria, from Greek pteron wing + sauros lizard

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pterosaur

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• blastopore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore

Kids Definition

pterosaur

noun

ptero·​saur ˈter-ə-ˌsȯ(ə)r 

: pterodactyl