SAURIAN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does saurian mean? 

• SAURIAN (noun)
  The noun SAURIAN has 1 sense:

1. any of various reptiles of the suborder Sauria which includes lizards; in former classifications included also the crocodiles and dinosaurs

  Familiarity information: SAURIAN used as a noun is very rare.

• SAURIAN (adjective)
  The adjective SAURIAN has 1 sense:

1. of or relating to lizards

  Familiarity information: SAURIAN used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SAURIAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of various reptiles of the suborder Sauria which includes lizards; in former classifications included also the crocodiles and dinosaurs

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("saurian" is a kind of...):

diapsid; diapsid reptile (reptile having a pair of openings in the skull behind each eye)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "saurian"):

lizard (relatively long-bodied reptile with usually two pairs of legs and a tapering tail)

Holonyms ("saurian" is a member of...):

Lacertilia; Sauria; suborder Lacertilia; suborder Sauria (true lizards; including chameleons and geckos)

Derivation:

saurian (of or relating to lizards)

• SAURIAN (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to lizards

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

lacertilian; saurian

Pertainym:

lizard (relatively long-bodied reptile with usually two pairs of legs and a tapering tail)

Derivation:

Sauria (true lizards; including chameleons and geckos)

saurian (any of various reptiles of the suborder Sauria which includes lizards; in former classifications included also the crocodiles and dinosaurs)

 Context examples 

I took heart, however, as I recalled a conversation between Challenger and Summerlee upon the habits of the great saurians.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Studies of women and babies accounted for several more pages, and then there was an unbroken series of animal drawings with such explanations as Manatee upon Sandbank, Turtles and Their Eggs, Black Ajouti under a Miriti Palm—the matter disclosing some sort of pig-like animal; and finally came a double page of studies of long-snouted and very unpleasant saurians.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In their narrow-mouthed caves the natives, whoever they might be, had refuges into which the huge saurians could not penetrate, while with their developed brains they were capable of setting such traps, covered with branches, across the paths which marked the run of the animals as would destroy them in spite of all their strength and activity.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Hence, ladies and gentlemen, he added, that frightful brood of saurians which still affright our eyes when seen in the Wealden or in the Solenhofen slates, but which were fortunately extinct long before the first appearance of mankind upon this planet.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The sand-banks far out were spotted with uncouth crawling forms, huge turtles, strange saurians, and one great flat creature like a writhing, palpitating mat of black greasy leather, which flopped its way slowly to the lake.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)