ceratopsian

noun
cer·​a·​top·​sian | \ ˌsər-ə-ˈtäp-sē-ən How to pronounce ceratopsian (audio) \

Definition of ceratopsian

: any of a suborder (Ceratopsia) of ornithischian dinosaurs of the Late Cretaceous having horns, a sharp horny beak, and a bony frill projecting backward from the skull

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from ceratopsian

ceratopsian adjective

Examples of ceratopsian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On a fateful day, some 66 million years ago, two such creatures, a 22-foot-long theropod and a 28-foot-long ceratopsian, engaged in mortal combat. Jeremy P. Jacobs, Science | AAAS, "Are dinosaur fossils ‘minerals’? The Montana Supreme Court will decide high stakes case," 10 July 2019 The team studied the patterns of ornamental horns and frills in 46 species of horned dinosaurs (ceratopsians), including the triceratops. Katherine Hignett, Newsweek, "Horny Triceratops: Dinosaurs Developed Frills and Horns to Woo A Mate," 21 Mar. 2018 On a fateful day, some 66 million years ago, two such creatures, a 22-foot-long theropod and a 28-foot-long ceratopsian, engaged in mortal combat. Jeremy P. Jacobs, Science | AAAS, "Are dinosaur fossils ‘minerals’? The Montana Supreme Court will decide high stakes case," 10 July 2019 But in ceratopsians, both sexes grew the elaborate facial coat racks, suggesting something unique happened within the group of dinosaurs. Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Dinosaur Horns Were For Making Love, Not War," 23 Mar. 2018 The team studied the patterns of ornamental horns and frills in 46 species of horned dinosaurs (ceratopsians), including the triceratops. Katherine Hignett, Newsweek, "Horny Triceratops: Dinosaurs Developed Frills and Horns to Woo A Mate," 21 Mar. 2018 The findings are the latest in a long-running controversy over why ceratopsians—the dinosaur group containing Triceratops—lugged around massive, bony frills on their heads. Michael Greshko, National Geographic, "Horned Dinosaurs May Have Used Their Frills to Flirt," 21 Jan. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ceratopsian.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of ceratopsian

1909, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for ceratopsian

New Latin Ceratopsia, from Ceratops, a genus, from Greek kerat-, keras horn + ōps face — more at horn, eye

Keep scrolling for more