rhizoverbBeta
DictionarytriceratopsThree-horned dinosaur
noun

triceratops

try-SAIR-uh-tahps/traɪˈserətɑːps/

A large plant-eating dinosaur with three horns and a bony neck frill.

A triceratops has two long horns above its eyes.

A single living Triceratops in a clear three-quarter view, showing its two long brow horns, shorter nose horn, and broad bony neck frill.
Etymology
triGreekthree
+ceratGreekhorn
+opsGreekface, eye

The components mean “three-horned face,” naming the dinosaur by its conspicuous facial horns. Here ōps carries the sense “face,” rather than its earlier meaning “eye.”

In context

Modern-Day Debate68:02
triceratops is you know three-horned face it's the ceratopsian the uh the vegetarian dino we know by its teeth um that has the three horns and the frill on its back
Trevor Valle Vs Alex Stein | DEBATE | Are Dinosaurs Fake?

More examples

  • The museum displays a triceratops skeleton near the entrance.
  • A triceratops used its sharp beak to bite off plants.
  • The drawing shows a triceratops with a broad, bony neck frill.

Forms

triceratops · triceratopses