Cretaceous
adjective
Cre·ta·ceous
kri-ˈtā-shəs 
: of, relating to, or being the last period of the Mesozoic era characterized by continued dominance of reptiles, emergent dominance of angiosperms, diversification of mammals, and the extinction of many types of organisms at the close of the period
also
: of, relating to, or being the corresponding system of rocks see Geologic Time Table
Cretaceous
noun
Examples of Cretaceous in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These teeth spanned a wide age range, from the modern era back to the Cretaceous period.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
The area is built on weakly cemented sandstones, which formed during the Lower Cretaceous period more than 100 million years ago, that can be eroded by running water, Andrew Farrant, a geologist for the British Geological Survey, said in a statement.
—Jenny Gross, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
According to the team, this discovery highlights how volunteers and community members working alongside seasoned researchers can help uncover the secrets of Australia’s Cretaceous past.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2025
According to London's Natural History Museum, the Iguanodon was a herbivorous dinosaur that averaged about 32 feet in length and roamed in the Early Cretaceous period (110 million to 140 million years ago), primarily in Belgium and the United Kingdom.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
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Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
The area is built on weakly cemented sandstones, which formed during the Lower Cretaceous period more than 100 million years ago, that can be eroded by running water, Andrew Farrant, a geologist for the British Geological Survey, said in a statement.
—Jenny Gross, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
According to the team, this discovery highlights how volunteers and community members working alongside seasoned researchers can help uncover the secrets of Australia’s Cretaceous past.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2025
According to London's Natural History Museum, the Iguanodon was a herbivorous dinosaur that averaged about 32 feet in length and roamed in the Early Cretaceous period (110 million to 140 million years ago), primarily in Belgium and the United Kingdom.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Cretaceous
Cite this Entry
“Cretaceous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cretaceous. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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Cretaceous
adjective
Cre·ta·ceous
kri-ˈtā-shəs
: of, relating to, or being the last period of the Mesozoic era of geological history marked by the extinction of the dinosaurs at the close of the period
also
: relating to the corresponding system of rocks see geologic time
Cretaceous
noun
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