cretaceous Hear it!

cretaceous definition

cre·ta·ceous (kri tā′s̸həs, krē-)

adjective

  1. Now Rare containing, composed of, or having the nature of, chalk
  2. designating or of the third and last geologic period of the Mesozoic Era, characterized by the formation of huge oil and chalk deposits, the development of the first flowering plants and placental mammals, and the extinction of toothed birds, ammonites, and dinosaurs

Etymology: L cretaceus < creta: see crayon

cretaceous Idioms

the Cretaceous

the Cretaceous Period or its rocks

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.