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What is the Definition of Cretaceous?

What is the Definition of Cretaceous?

The Cretaceous period is a geological period that lasted from approximately 145 to 66 million years ago. It is known for being the last period of the Mesozoic Era and the age of the dinosaurs. The Cretaceous period is characterized by the diversification of various groups of organisms, including flowering plants, reptiles, and marine life. It ended with a mass extinction event, which led to the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs and the rise of mammals.

Label: Geography
Theme: Dictionary of Geography Terms

Read other Article: What is the Definition of Conservative plate margin?


Cretaceous as Noun

The noun form of Cretaceous refers to the geological period from approximately 145 to 66 million years ago, known for its distinctive fossil records and the presence of dinosaurs.

Cretaceous as Adjective

The adjective form of Cretaceous relates to or denotes the Cretaceous period or the characteristics associated with it, such as Cretaceous fossils or Cretaceous rocks.

Cretaceous Synonyms

  • Age of the Dinosaurs
  • Cretaceous Period
  • Cretaceous Era
  • Upper Cretaceous
  • Cretaceous System
  • Cretaceous Epoch
  • K-T Boundary
  • Cretaceous-Tertiary Period
  • Age of Reptiles
  • Maastrichtian Age

Examples of Cretaceous in Sentences

  1. The discovery of a well-preserved Cretaceous dinosaur fossil amazed the paleontologists.
  2. The sedimentary layers from the Cretaceous period contain valuable information about prehistoric ecosystems.
  3. The Cretaceous flora included a variety of flowering plants that diversified during this time.
  4. The Cretaceous seas were inhabited by marine reptiles such as mosasaurs and plesiosaurs.
  5. Researchers have found evidence of a mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period.
  6. The Cretaceous rocks in this region contain abundant fossilized ammonites.
  7. The Cretaceous climate was generally warm and humid, supporting lush vegetation.
  8. Scientists study Cretaceous sediments to understand past environmental changes.
  9. The Cretaceous period is a fascinating time in Earth's history due to its diverse life forms.
  10. The Cretaceous-Jurassic boundary marks an important transition in geological history.

Translates of Cretaceous

Language Translation Pronunciation
Mandarin Chinese 白垩纪 (bái'é jì) bái'é jì
Spanish Cretácico kreˈtaθiko
English Cretaceous kriːˈteɪʃəs
Hindi क्रीटेशियस (krīṭeśiyas) krīṭeśiyas
Arabic الكريتاسي (alkuryatasii) alkuryatasii
Bengali ক্রিটেসিয়াস (Krīṭēsiẏāsa) Krīṭēsiẏāsa
Portuguese Cretáceo kɾeˈtasɛu
Russian Крейтовый (Kreytovyy) Kreytovyy
Japanese 白亜紀 (Hakuaki) hakuaki
Punjabi ਕਰੀਟੇਸ਼ੀਅਸ (karīṭēśīas) karīṭēśīas
German Kreidezeit kʀaɪ̯dəˈtsaɪ̯t
French Crétacé kʀetaˈse
Korean 백악기 (Baegakgi) baegakgi
Italian Cretaceo kreˈtaːtʃeo
Turkish Kretase kɾɛtaˈsɛ

5 FAQS About Cretaceous


What were the dominant dinosaurs during the Cretaceous period?

Some of the dominant dinosaurs during the Cretaceous period included Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Velociraptor, and Hadrosaurs.

What major geological events occurred during the Cretaceous period?

During the Cretaceous period, significant events such as the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, the formation of the Rocky Mountains, and the opening of the Atlantic Ocean took place.

Did mammals exist during the Cretaceous period?

Yes, mammals existed during the Cretaceous period. However, they were relatively small and overshadowed by the dominance of dinosaurs.

What is the significance of the K-T boundary?

The K-T boundary, which marks the end of the Cretaceous period and the beginning of the Tertiary period, is associated with the mass extinction event that led to the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs.

What types of plants thrived during the Cretaceous period?

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The Cretaceous period witnessed the rise and diversification of flowering plants, including the evolution of various types of angiosperms and the spread of deciduous trees.


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  • Thank you for reading this article about the definition of Cretaceous. In summary, the Cretaceous period refers to a geological period that lasted from approximately 145 to 66 million years ago. It was a time of diversification of various organisms, including dinosaurs, flowering plants, and marine life. The Cretaceous period ended with a mass extinction event, leading to the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs and the rise of mammals. Explore more geography terms on Definitionly.com.