theropod
3
9.9
- noun
- /ˈθɛrəˌpɒd/
- Specialized
:
terópodo
- Marasuchus, a basal theropod dinosaur (all of which are bipeds), may have inherited its bipedal abilities from a common ancestor with Scleromochlus.
- theropod dinosaur
- carnivorous theropod
- small theropod
Birds evolved from dinosaurs called theropods.
- Birds evolved from dinosaurs called theropods.
Examples
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In the museum, the exhibit showcases the skeleton of a fierce theropod known as Tyrannosaurus rex.
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Now, if you all will follow me this way, we're going to look at the theropods.
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The theropods are two-legged predators...
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Small, carnivorous theropods.
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With the help of finite element analysis software, Emily Rayfield, an earth sciences doctoral student at Cambridge University, studies the Allosaurus fragilis, a theropod from the Jurassic period.
Academic text (2001) -
Emily Rayfield, an earth sciences doctoral student at the school, has been studying the Allosaurus fragilis, a theropod from the Jurassic period whose fossilized remains have been found at numerous sites in the United States and Europe.
Academic text (2001) -
The paleontologist discovered the fossil of a large theropod dinosaur with sharp teeth.
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Many scientists believe that birds evolved from small theropod dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago.
Synonyms
1
9.3
A meat-eating dinosaur with short front legs and strong back legs for running
1
9.9
A dinosaur that eats meat and has short front legs and strong back legs for running
1
9.9
A group of dinosaurs that ate meat and had short front legs
A group of meat-eating dinosaurs with short front legs from the Jurassic and Cretaceous
Compounds
- Specialized
1
9.3
A meat-eating dinosaur with short front legs and strong back legs for running
Surface Forms
Morphology
theropod = thero + pod
Formed from Greek combining forms meaning 'beast' + 'foot' (technical paleontological term); the components are not productive English morphemes familiar to average learners, so the meaning is not derivable by a typical B1 learner.
Etymology
Theropod comes from old Greek parts that mean 'beast' (thero-) and 'foot' (-pod), like tripod which also uses -pod for 'foot'. So a theropod is literally a 'beast-foot', a helpful image to remember these meat-eating dinosaurs had strong back feet and walked on them.