noun

velociraptor

vuh-lo-sih-RAPT

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Velociraptor (noun) means a small, fast-moving meat-eating dinosaur with sickle-shaped claws, known from fossils found in Mongolia and China dating to the late Cretaceous period, roughly 71-75 million years ago. Example: “Fossil evidence suggests the velociraptor was covered in feathers.”

noun

A small, fast-moving meat-eating dinosaur with sickle-shaped claws, known from fossils found in Mongolia and China dating to the late Cretaceous period, roughly 71-75 million years ago.

"Bipedal hadrosaurs, great hulking lambeosaurs, certain rhino-like ceratopsians and relatives of the velociraptors - all large and probably able swimmers - had the greatest success." — Tim Flannery, Europe: A Natural History (2018)

"Fossil evidence suggests the velociraptor was covered in feathers."

"Museum displays often show the velociraptor hunting in packs, though this is debated among paleontologists."

How to use velociraptor

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small, quick, clawed dinosaur, made far more famous by movies than by its actual (much smaller) real-life size.

Common mistake

The Jurassic Park movie velociraptors are roughly human-sized; real velociraptor fossils show an animal closer to the size of a turkey.

Easily confused with

raptor →

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: velociraptors

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Can you complete this real example?

Fossil evidence suggests the _____ was covered in feathers.

Etymology

From New Latin Velociraptor, combining Latin vēlōx ("swift") and raptor ("thief, plunderer"). The film Jurassic Park popularised a larger, more human-sized depiction based on a related dinosaur, Deinonychus, after some paleontologists argued the two genera should be merged.

Origin: New Latin

Rhymes for velociraptor

raptor captor

See all rhymes for velociraptor →

Frequently asked questions

What does “velociraptor” mean?

The word “velociraptor” means a small, fast-moving meat-eating dinosaur with sickle-shaped claws, known from fossils found in Mongolia and China dating to the late Cretaceous period, roughly 71-75 million years ago. In plain terms, a small, quick, clawed dinosaur, made far more famous by movies than by its actual (much smaller) real-life size.

How do you pronounce “velociraptor”?

“Velociraptor” is pronounced vuh-lo-sih-RAPT (/vəˌlɒsɪˈɹæptɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “velociraptor” in a sentence?

Here is “velociraptor” used in a sentence: “Fossil evidence suggests the velociraptor was covered in feathers.”

What part of speech is “velociraptor”?

“Velociraptor” is a noun.

Where does the word “velociraptor” come from?

The word “velociraptor” comes from New Latin.