tyrannosaur

noun

ty·​ran·​no·​saur tə-ˈra-nə-ˌsȯr 

tī-

plural tyrannosaurs

1

: a massive North American tyrannosaurid dinosaur (Tyrannosaurus rex) : tyrannosaurus rex

2

: tyrannosaurid

Examples of tyrannosaur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

From towering sauropods and fearsome tyrannosaurs to tanklike ankylosaurs and horned ceratopsians, dinosaurs dominate our conceptions of the past. —Kristi Curry Rogers, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024

Younger tyrannosaurs, in particular, likely targeted smaller prey, from lizards and crocodilians to other juvenile dinosaurs. —Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2024

New information on scavenging and selective feeding behaviour of tyrannosaurs. —Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2024

Bones found near one tyrannosaur fossil have also been interpreted as stomach contents. —Jeanne Timmons, Scientific American, 8 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Tyrannosaurus, from Greek tyrannos tyrant + sauros lizard

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tyrannosaur

noun

ty·​ran·​no·​saur tə-ˈran-ə-ˌsȯ(ə)r 

tī-

: a very large North American flesh-eating dinosaur of the Cretaceous period that had small forelegs and walked on its hind legs