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pterodactyl

Pronunciation: /ˌtɛrəˈdaktɪl/

Definition of pterodactyl

noun

  • a pterosaur of the late Jurassic period, with a long slender head and neck and a very short tail.
    • Family Pterodactylidae, order Pterosauria: several genera, including Pterodactylus
  • (in general use) any pterosaur.

Origin:

early 19th century: from modern Latin Pterodactylus (genus name), from Greek pteron 'wing' + daktulos 'finger'

Spelling help

Remember that pterodactyl begins with a p-, although it is not heard when you say the word.

pterodactyl in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of pterodactyl in the US English dictionary

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