velociraptor

9.8

A small, fast meat-eating dinosaur similar to a bird

noun
/vɛˈlɑsɪˌræptər/

: velociraptor

Scientists believe the velociraptor's feathers suggest a close relationship to modern birds.
a little velociraptor

Examples

The little velociraptor opened her jaws and hissed at Grant, in a posture of sudden intense fury.

Fiction book (1990)
It was unquestionably an infant velociraptor, and it looked perfect.

Fiction book (1990)
But an adult velociraptor was another matter entirely.

Fiction book (1990)
"The little velociraptor sniffed at Tim, and then rubbed her head against Tim's neck.

Fiction book (1990)
Velociraptors are pack hunters.

Jurassic World (2015)
The velociraptor was known for its speed and hunting skills in the Late Cretaceous period.
In movies, the velociraptor is often depicted as a clever and fast predator.

Synonyms

dromaeosaur

vsvelociraptor

Specialized

1 9.9

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

is narrower naming one small fast genus rather than the whole family

Surface Forms

velociraptor singular

velociraptors plural

Morphology

velociraptor = raptor (opaque) = veloci + raptor

Although the Latin-based parts 'veloci' and 'raptor' are etymologically meaningful, the dinosaur genus name is a specialized scientific coinage that an average learner would not readily decode.

Etymology

The word velociraptor comes from two Latin parts: velox meaning 'swift', as in velocity which means 'speed', and raptor meaning 'one who grabs', like the modern birds called raptors. So a velociraptor is a 'swift grabber', a fast hunter that matches this small, bird-like dinosaur.