pterosaur
UK[ˈtɛr.ə.sɔː]US[ˈtɛr.ə.sɔːr]
n
an extinct flying reptile of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, with wings consisting of a membrane stretching from the body to a very long fourth finger.
Morpheme Breakdown
ptero
saur
ptero
wing
saur
lizard
Etymology
the word pterosaur is a modern scientific compound formed from two ancient greek roots. the first part, ptero, derives from pteron, which broadly meant wing, feather, or fin, indicating a structure for flying or gliding. the second part, saur, comes from sauros, a term for lizard, reflecting the early classification of these creatures as reptiles. coined in the 19th century, the term literally translates to wing lizard, a name that directly and logically describes the defining anatomical feature of these prehistoric animals—their membranous wings supported by an elongated finger.
Analysis
Structure: ptero (wing) + saur (lizard)
ptero (from greek pteron, meaning wing or feather); saur (from greek sauros, meaning lizard or reptile).
Examples
the pterosaur glided effortlessly over the ancient coastline, searching for fish.
fossils show that the quetzalcoatlus was one of the largest pterosaurs ever to exist.
scientists study the hollow bones of the pterosaur to understand its flight mechanics.