ankylosaur: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Scientific, Educational
Quick answer
What does “ankylosaur” mean?
A heavily armoured, plant-eating dinosaur of the Cretaceous period with a club-like tail.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A heavily armoured, plant-eating dinosaur of the Cretaceous period with a club-like tail.
Informally, a symbol or metaphor for anything sturdy, defensive, or resistant to change due to its thick armour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Both use 'ankylosaur'.
Connotations
Identical scientific connotations. Potential minor variation in popular media portrayal.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, appearing mainly in palaeontology, museums, and educational contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “ankylosaur” in a Sentence
[Scientists] discovered [a new species of] ankylosaur.The [fossilised] ankylosaur [was remarkably well-preserved].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ankylosaur” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The model featured remarkable ankylosaur-like armour plating.
American English
- It was an ankylosaur fossil of unprecedented completeness.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically for a company with strong defensive mechanisms against takeovers.
Academic
Used in palaeontology, geology, and evolutionary biology papers.
Everyday
Rare. Used when discussing dinosaurs, visiting museums, or with children.
Technical
Standard term in vertebrate palaeontology for members of the infraorder Ankylosauria.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ankylosaur”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ankylosaur”
- Misspelling as 'ankylosaurus' when referring to the broader group (correct for the genus, but 'ankylosaur' is correct for the family/infraorder).
- Confusing with the similarly named 'ankylosis' (a medical condition of joint stiffness).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes from Greek, meaning 'fused lizard', referring to the bony plates fused into its armour.
Ankylosaurus is one specific genus within the larger group called ankylosaurs. All Ankylosaurus are ankylosaurs, but not all ankylosaurs are Ankylosaurus.
They lived during the Cretaceous period, approximately 68 to 66 million years ago.
While very strong, palaeontologists debate its full effectiveness. The armour was likely excellent defence against claws and weaker bites.
A heavily armoured, plant-eating dinosaur of the Cretaceous period with a club-like tail.
Ankylosaur is usually technical/scientific, educational in register.
Ankylosaur: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæŋkɪlə(ʊ)ˌsɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæŋkɪloʊˌsɔːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'ANKLE' + 'sore' – if a heavy, armoured ankylosaur stepped on your ankle, it would be very sore!
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMOVABLE OBJECT / LIVING TANK
Practice
Quiz
What is the most distinctive defensive feature of an ankylosaur?