mosasaur

noun

mo·​sa·​saur ˈmō-zə-ˌsȯr 

: any of a family (Mosasauridae) of very large extinct marine fish-eating lizards of the Upper Cretaceous with limbs modified into paddles that are related to the recent monitor lizards

Examples of mosasaur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the climate shifted and other marine predators began to falter, mosasaurs adapted and flourished. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Sep. 2024

These unique tooth types allowed different mosasaurs to thrive at the same time. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Sep. 2024

While mosasaurs lived alongside dinosaurs, the aquatic predators were not dinosaurs and were instead closely related to snakes and lizards. —Ariana Garcia, Chron, 18 Sep. 2024

Regardless of how many times large mosasaurs independently evolved, the lizards thrived in the seas. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Mosasaurus, from Latin Mosa the river Meuse + Greek sauros lizard

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mosasaur

noun

mo·​sa·​saur ˈmō-zə-ˌsȯr 

: any of various very large extinct fish-eating lizards of seas of the Cretaceous period with limbs resembling paddles

Etymology

from Latin Mosa "the River Meuse" and Greek sauros "lizard"