CRETACEOUS
Cretaceous
(adjective) of or relating to or denoting the third period of the Mesozoic era
cretaceous
(adjective) abounding in chalk
Cretaceous, Cretaceous period
(noun) from 135 million to 63 million years ago; end of the age of reptiles; appearance of modern insects and flowering plants
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
cretaceous (not comparable)
Of or relating to chalk.
Consisting of chalk.
Etymology
Proper noun
Cretaceous
(geology) The geologic period within the Mesozoic era that comprises lower and upper epochs from about 146 to 66 million years ago.
Source: Wiktionary
Cre*ta"ceous (kr-t"shs), a. Etym: [L. cretaceus, fr. creta chalk. See
Crayon.]
Definition: Having the qualities of chalk;abounding with chalk; chalky; as,
cretaceous rocks and formations. See Chalk. Cretaceous acid, an old
name for carbonic acid.
– Cretaceous formation (Geol.), the series of strata of various
kinds, including beds of chalk, green sand, etc., formed in the
Cretaceous period; -- called also the chalk formation. See the
Diagram under Geology.
– Cretaceous period (Geol.), the time in the latter part of the
Mesozoic age during which the Cretaceous formation was deposited.
Cre*ta"ceous, a. Also Cre*tac"ic. (Geol.)
Definition: Of, pertaining to, or designating, the period of time following
the Jurassic and preceding the Eocene.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition