velociraptor

noun ve·loc·i·rap·tor \ və-ˈlä-sə-ˌrap-tər \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Definition of velociraptor

: any of a genus (Velociraptor) of theropod dinosaurs of the Late Cretaceous having a long head with a flat snout and a large sickle-shaped claw on the second toe of each foot

Recent Examples of velociraptor from the Web

The dinosaurs, which cost anywhere from $100 for a small egg to $1,800 for a large velociraptor, are made from high-grade resin, owner Billy Frazier, 74, told Chron.com Tuesday.

— fernando alfonso iii, Houston Chronicle, "'Jurassic World' is a boon for one Texas business selling massive dinosaur ornaments," 20 June 2018
In the former, the horse-sized velociraptors should actually have been the size of dogs.

— katherine j. wu, Smithsonian, "Five Ways Real Science Would Make the New Jurassic World So Much Better," 12 June 2018
Giant brontosauruses, velociraptors, and multiple tyrannosaurus can be seen outside on the business' 8 acres and within its giant facility.

— fernando alfonso iii, Houston Chronicle, "'Jurassic World' is a boon for one Texas business selling massive dinosaur ornaments," 20 June 2018
One question fans might not have thought to ask, though, was whether or not the velociraptors were the correct size.

— angela watercutter, WIRED, "Why Are the Velociraptors in Jurassic World So Big?," 19 June 2018
Paleobiologists have been uncovering strong evidence of that dinosaurs including velociraptors and relatives of Tyrannosaurus rex had downy, colorful plumage since the mid-1990s.

— katherine j. wu, Smithsonian, "Five Ways Real Science Would Make the New Jurassic World So Much Better," 12 June 2018
But Pratt and Howard can’t bear to see the dinos die, especially the sweetest, most intelligent velociraptor in the world, Blue, who was raised by Pratt from infancy.

— stephanie zacharek, Time, "Spectacle of Jurassic World Leaves the Dinosaurs Behind," 21 June 2018
This was no time to prioritize the future, to spurn the bird in hand and chase the velociraptor in the distance.

— david murphy, Philly.com, "Sixers smart to make NBA draft trade, build portfolio in more than one way | David Murphy," 21 June 2018
Since the film's 1993 debut, scientists have discovered that velociraptors were actually feathered, Dilophosauruses definitely didn’t spit poison, and a T-Rex’s vision was very much not based on movement.

— matt blitz, Popular Mechanics, "The Real Science of Bringing Back the Dinosaurs," 20 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'velociraptor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.