cretaceous
[ kri-tey-shuh s ]
/ krɪˈteɪ ʃəs /
adjective
resembling or containing chalk.
(initial capital letter) Geology.
noting or pertaining to a period of the Mesozoic Era, from 140 million to 65 million years ago, characterized by the greatest development and subsequent extinction of dinosaurs and the advent of flowering plants and modern insects.
noun
(initial capital letter) Geology.
the Cretaceous Period or System.
Origin of cretaceous
OTHER WORDS FROM cretaceous
cre·ta·ceous·ly, adverb non·cre·ta·ceous, adjective post·cre·ta·ceous, adjective su·per·cre·ta·ceous, adjectiveWords nearby cretaceous
crestone needle,
crestone peak,
crestwood,
cresyl,
cresylic,
cretaceous,
cretan,
cretan bull,
crete,
cretic,
cretin
Example sentences from the Web for cretaceous
British Dictionary definitions for cretaceous (1 of 2)
cretaceous
/ (krɪˈteɪʃəs) /
adjective
consisting of or resembling chalk
Derived forms of cretaceous
cretaceously, adverbWord Origin for cretaceous
C17: from Latin
crētāceus, from
crēta, literally: Cretan earth, that is, chalk
British Dictionary definitions for cretaceous (2 of 2)
Cretaceous
/ (krɪˈteɪʃəs) /
adjective
of, denoting, or formed in the last period of the Mesozoic era, between the Jurassic and Tertiary periods, lasting 80 million years during which chalk deposits were formed and flowering plants first appeared
noun
the Cretaceous
the Cretaceous period or rock system
Scientific definitions for cretaceous
Cretaceous
[ krĭ-tā′shəs ]
The third and last period of the Mesozoic Era, from about 144 to 65 million years ago. During this time the supercontinent Pangaea continued to split up, with modern-day South America and Africa splitting apart, the Atlantic Ocean widening, and India disconnecting itself entirely from the other landmasses to which it was attached. Dinosaurs continued to be the dominant terrestrial animals, but many insect groups, modern mammals and birds, and the angiosperms (flowering plants) also first appeared. The Cretaceous Period ended with a mass extinction event in which about 75 percent of all species, including marine, freshwater, and terrestrial organisms, became extinct. See Chart at geologic time.