Cretaceous

Cre·ta·ceous

 (krĭ-tā′shəs)

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or being the period of geologic time from about 146 to 66 million years ago, the third and most recent period of the Mesozoic Era. The Cretaceous Period is characterized by the formation of modern continents from the supercontinent Pangaea and by the development of flowering plants. The Period ended with the sudden extinction of the dinosaurs and many other forms of life. See Table at geologic time.

2. cretaceous Of, containing, or resembling chalk.

n.

The Cretaceous Period.

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[From Latin crētāceus, chalky, from crēta, chalk, from Crēta (terra), Cretan (earth).]

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cre·ta′ceous·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

cretaceous

(krɪˈteɪʃəs)

adj

(Chemistry) consisting of or resembling chalk

[C17: from Latin crētāceus, from crēta, literally: Cretan earth, that is, chalk]

creˈtaceously adv

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Cretaceous

(krɪˈteɪʃəs)

adj

(Geological Science) 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

n

(Geological Science) the Cretaceous the Cretaceous period or rock system

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cre•ta•ceous

(krɪˈteɪ ʃəs)

adj.

1. resembling or containing chalk.

2. (cap.) 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.

n.

3. (cap.) the Cretaceous Period or System.

[1665–70; < Latin crētāceus=crēt(a) chalk, clay (compare crayon) + -āceus -aceous; the geological period was defined from the chalk beds of SE England]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Cre·ta·ceous

(krĭ-tā′shəs)

The third and last period of the Mesozoic Era, from about 144 to 65 million years ago, characterized by the development of flowering plants. The Cretaceous Period ended with the sudden mass extinction of dinosaurs and many other forms of life. See Chart at geologic time.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Cretaceous - from 135 million to 63 million years ago; end of the age of reptiles; appearance of modern insects and flowering plants Cretaceous period Age of Reptiles, Mesozoic, Mesozoic era - from 230 million to 63 million years ago
Adj.	1.	cretaceous - abounding in chalk
	2.	Cretaceous - of or relating to or denoting the third period of the Mesozoic era

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

Kreidekreiden

Cretáceocretácico

Crétacé

cretaceo

мел

cretaceous

[krɪˈteɪʃəs] ADJ → cretáceo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

cretaceous

adj → Kreide-, kretazeisch (spec); the cretaceous age (Geol) → die Kreide(zeit)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007