cretaceous Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun from 135 million to 63 million years ago; end of the age of reptiles; appearance of modern insects and flowering plants
    Cretaceous period.
  2. adjective abounding in chalk
  3. adjective of or relating to or denoting the third period of the Mesozoic era

WordNet

Cre*ta"ceous adjective
Etymology
L. cretaceus, fr. creta chalk. See Crayon.
Definitions
  1. Having the qualities of chalk;abounding with chalk; chalky; as, cretaceous rocks and formations. See Chalk.

Webster 1913