Cretaceous

adjective

Cre·​ta·​ceous kri-ˈtā-shəs 

: of, relating to, or being the last period of the Mesozoic era characterized by continued dominance of reptiles, emergent dominance of angiosperms, diversification of mammals, and the extinction of many types of organisms at the close of the period

also : of, relating to, or being the corresponding system of rocks see Geologic Time Table

Cretaceous noun

Examples of Cretaceous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The scientists therefore conclude that the meteorite impact was the ultimate cause of the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period. —David Bressan, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

Detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Cretaceous trackway was made by a two-toed dinosaur like Microraptor. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024

Elasmosaurus, for example, which lived during the Late Cretaceous period 81 million years ago, had among the longest necks of any plesiosaur, with the entire creature extending to around 43 feet in length. —Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 11 Dec. 2024

Triceratops is a large, herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period (100.5-66 million years ago). —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin cretaceus resembling chalk, from creta chalk

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Cretaceous

adjective

Cre·​ta·​ceous kri-ˈtā-shəs 

: of, relating to, or being the last period of the Mesozoic era of geological history marked by the extinction of the dinosaurs at the close of the period

also : relating to the corresponding system of rocks see geologic time

Cretaceous noun