noun
pterodactyl
tehr-uh-DAK-tuhl
Pterodactyl (noun) means a flying reptile from the dinosaur era with a long beak and wings made of skin stretched over a long finger bone. Example: “The museum's new exhibit features a life-size pterodactyl skeleton.”
noun
1
A flying reptile from the dinosaur era with a long beak and wings made of skin stretched over a long finger bone.
"The museum's new exhibit features a life-size pterodactyl skeleton."
How to use pterodactyl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA prehistoric flying reptile, often pictured with a long beak and wide leathery wings.
Common mistake
Pterodactyls were flying reptiles, not dinosaurs, and not birds — a common mix-up in casual usage.
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Word forms
- Plural
- pterodactyls
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum's new exhibit features a life-size _____ skeleton.
Etymology
From French ptérodactyle, coined by naturalist Georges Cuvier from Greek pteron ("wing") + daktylos ("finger").
Frequently asked questions
What does “pterodactyl” mean?
The word “pterodactyl” means a flying reptile from the dinosaur era with a long beak and wings made of skin stretched over a long finger bone. In plain terms, a prehistoric flying reptile, often pictured with a long beak and wide leathery wings.
How do you pronounce “pterodactyl”?
“Pterodactyl” is pronounced tehr-uh-DAK-tuhl (/ˌtɛɹ.əˈdæk.təl/ in IPA).
How do you use “pterodactyl” in a sentence?
Here is “pterodactyl” used in a sentence: “The museum's new exhibit features a life-size pterodactyl skeleton.”
What part of speech is “pterodactyl”?
“Pterodactyl” is a noun.
Where does the word “pterodactyl” come from?
The word “pterodactyl” comes from French. From French ptérodactyle, coined by naturalist Georges Cuvier from Greek pteron ("wing") + daktylos ("finger").
