dromaeosaur

1 9.9

A fast two-legged meat-eating dinosaur with a curved claw on each foot

noun
/ˈdroʊmiəˌsɔr/

Specialized

: dromaeosaurio

Researchers believe the dromaeosaur was one of the fastest predators of the Cretaceous period.

Examples

No, I'm talking about the dromaeosaurs.

Dinosaur Island (2014)
You see, male dromaeosaurs often collect bright colored objects in order to attract a mate.

Dinosaur Island (2014)
The fossil of a dromaeosaur discovered in Montana shows striking similarities to the famous Velociraptor.
Paleontologists have identified a new species of dromaeosaur based on the unique shape of its claws.

Surface Forms

dromaeosaur singular

dromaeosaurs plural

Morphology

dromaeosaur = dromae + saur

Formed from Greek combining elements ('dromae-' + '-saur') used in scientific names; these are specialized, non-productive morphemes that an average B1 learner will not recognize, so the meaning is not transparently derivable from common English vocabulary.

Etymology

Dromaeosaur comes from Greek parts dromae- meaning 'running' and -saur meaning 'lizard'. So it literally means a 'running lizard', which is a clear image for a fast, two-legged, clawed dinosaur.