sauropod

noun

sau·​ro·​pod ˈsȯr-ə-ˌpäd How to pronounce sauropod (audio)
: any of a suborder (Sauropoda) of quadrupedal herbivorous saurischian dinosaurs (such as an apatosaurus) of the Jurassic and Cretaceous having a long neck and tail, small head, and 5-toed limbs on which they tended to walk in a digitigrade fashion
sauropod adjective

Examples of sauropod in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But if this is true, then why do large sauropods also have hollow bones? Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 19 Apr. 2025 The discovery adds to a growing body of research that has revealed that all theropods and sauropods may have had bones with air sacs. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 19 Apr. 2025 These creatures — or even large sauropods — typically have slower metabolisms than fast-moving theropods. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025 Four of them came from the footfalls of some herbivorous sauropod, likely a Cetiosaurus. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sauropod

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Sauropoda, from Greek sauros lizard + New Latin -poda

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sauropod was circa 1889

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Cite this Entry

“Sauropod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sauropod. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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