multituberculate

noun

mul·​ti·​tu·​ber·​cu·​late ˌməl-tē-ˌtü-ˈbər-kyə-lət How to pronounce multituberculate (audio)
: any of an order (Multituberculata) of relatively small extinct mammals of the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic that typically resembled rodents, had many-cusped molars, and have no known living descendants

Examples of multituberculate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An extinct group of rodent-like animals called multituberculates was particularly prosperous, as were the forebears of modern marsupials. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 12 Jan. 2024 Meanwhile, as multituberculates prospered, three other groups quietly branched off on their own. Steve Brusatte, Scientific American, 1 June 2022 The vast majority of these creatures were metatherians (early members of the marsupial line) or multituberculates. Steve Brusatte, Scientific American, 1 June 2022 But Adalatherium’s anatomy suggests a connection with another group of mammals called multituberculates, which lived in the northern hemisphere. Theresa MacHemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2020 Jeholbaatar belonged to a now extinct lineage of mammals called the multituberculates that endured for well over 100 million years. Jim Daley, Scientific American, 5 Dec. 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Multituberculata, ultimately from Latin multi- + New Latin tuberculatus tuberculate

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of multituberculate was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near multituberculate

Cite this Entry

“Multituberculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multituberculate. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on multituberculate

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!