Definition

A large meat-eating dinosaur that lived in North America during a time long ago called the Cretaceous period.

Example

The tyrannosaurus was one of the largest predators of its time.

Conversation

Did you know the tyrannosaurus was one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs?

Yeah, I've read that it was really powerful and intimidating.

Imagine coming face to face with a tyrannosaurus!

That would be terrifying but also amazing to see in real life.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tyrannosaurus is formed from "tyrannos" (from Greek "τυραννος", meaning tyrant) and "sauros" (from Greek "σαυρος", meaning lizard or reptile). The word describes a tyrant lizard, reflecting its status as a dominant predator in its environment.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'tyrant' ('tyrannos') that is a 'lizard' ('sauros') — this helps you remember that a tyrannosaurus is a powerful, dominant lizard.

Visually Confused Words