jurassic

Everyday

1. The Jurassic is a long period in Earth's history, many millions of years ago, in the middle of the age of dinosaurs. tree →
2. Jurassic describes things from that period: «Jurassic rocks», «Jurassic fossils». tree →
3. (informal) Jurassic can mean very old-fashioned, as a joke: «Dad's phone is positively Jurassic». tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on rocks and fossils, the Jurassic comes between the Triassic and the Cretaceous; dinosaurs such as Stegosaurus and Brachiosaurus lived then, as did the first birds. In the UK, the «Jurassic Coast» in Dorset and Devon is full of fossils, where Mary Anning searched. The film «Jurassic Park» made the word famous, but T. rex actually lived later, in the Cretaceous. Phrases: «the Jurassic period», «Jurassic Coast», «Jurassic Park».

Examples

• Stegosaurus lived in the Jurassic. tree →
• We found ammonites on the Jurassic Coast. tree →
• The Jurassic came after the Triassic. tree →
• The first birds appeared in the Jurassic. tree →
• These Jurassic rocks are full of fossils. tree →
• Grandpa's computer is so slow it's practically Jurassic. tree →

Note

Usually written with a capital J. Pronounced joo-RASS-ik. Myth trap: Tyrannosaurus rex is not Jurassic; it lived in the later Cretaceous period. People did not live at the same time as dinosaurs.