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Glite Dictionary
iguanodon

iguanodon

2 9.9
A large plant-eating dinosaur with a long heavy tail and a spike on each thumb
  • noun
  • /ɪˈɡwɑːnəˌdɒn/
: iguanodón
  • Fossils of the iguanodon have been discovered in various parts of Europe.

Examples

  • I have an iguanodon and a tyrannosaurus.

    Multiplicity (1996)

  • Bernissartensis Iguanodons.

    Dinosaur Island (2014)

  • The iguanodon was a massive dinosaur known for its distinctive thumb spikes.

  • Scientists believe the iguanodon primarily ate plants, as it was a herbivorous dinosaur.

Synonyms

genus Iguanodon
vsiguanodon
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant-eating dinosaur group from the Early Cretaceous with thumb spikes

focuses on body features and past European and North African distribution

Compounds

genus Iguanodon
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant-eating dinosaur group from the Early Cretaceous with thumb spikes

Surface Forms

iguanodon singular
iguanodons plural

Morphology

iguanodon = iguana (semi-transparent) = iguana + odon

The element 'iguana' is clearly recognizable, but the combining element '-odon' (meaning 'tooth' in scientific names) is not familiar to average learners, so the full meaning ('a dinosaur') is not directly inferable.

Etymology

The word iguanodon comes from the lizard name iguana and the Greek part -odon meaning 'tooth'. So it means 'iguana-tooth' because this plant-eating dinosaur's teeth looked like an iguana's, which helps you remember the name.