theropod

noun

the·ro·pod ˈthir-ə-ˌpäd

plural theropods

: any of a suborder (Theropoda) of carnivorous, bipedal, saurischian dinosaurs (such as a tyrannosaur or velociraptor) having hollow, thin-walled bones and usually small forelimbs

Note: Birds are descended from one lineage of small theropods.

Examples of theropod in a Sentence

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Both are descendants of theropods, two-legged creatures that wreaked havoc in various periods on Earth. —

Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024 It’s known to have sported osteoderms along its back, possibly weighed as much as three tons, and had massive jaws, not dissimilar to that of a large theropod. —

Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2024 Enlarge / Later theropods had multiple adaptations to varied temperatures. —

Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 28 May 2024 French biologists unearthed two teeth in the 1920s and originally assigned them to Megalosaurus, a large theropod from the Jurassic period. —

Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 18 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for theropod