Cretaceous

adjective

Cre·​ta·​ceous kri-ˈtā-shəs 

: of, relating to, or being the last period of the Mesozoic era characterized by continued dominance of reptiles, emergent dominance of angiosperms, diversification of mammals, and the extinction of many types of organisms at the close of the period

also : of, relating to, or being the corresponding system of rocks see Geologic Time Table

Cretaceous noun

Examples of Cretaceous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Triceratops is a large, herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period (100.5-66 million years ago). —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

The big picture: Visitors can glimpse dinosaur tracks left about 115 million years ago in the Early Cretaceous period. —Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024

While in the field with his students, Cotter says their main focus is often Cretaceous or glacial geology. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Sep. 2024

Scholars, prior to the coelacanth’s rediscovery in 1938, presumed that the coelacanth had gone extinct during the late Cretaceous period, 65-70 million years ago. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin cretaceus resembling chalk, from creta chalk

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Cretaceous

adjective

Cre·​ta·​ceous kri-ˈtā-shəs 

: of, relating to, or being the last period of the Mesozoic era of geological history marked by the extinction of the dinosaurs at the close of the period

also : relating to the corresponding system of rocks see geologic time

Cretaceous noun