ammonite

/'æmənait/

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Word: Ammonite

Part of Speech: Noun

Basic Definition: An ammonite is a type of fossil that comes from an extinct sea creature called a mollusk. These fossils are known for their coiled, spiral-shaped shells, which can sometimes be quite beautiful and interesting to look at.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "ammonite" when talking about fossils, paleontology (the study of fossils), or marine life in the past.
• It is typically used in scientific contexts but can also be found in discussions about geology or natural history.

Example Sentence:

• "During our visit to the museum, we saw a large ammonite fossil that was millions of years old."

Advanced Usage:

• In paleontology, ammonites are often studied to understand the history of Earth and the evolution of life. Scientists can learn about the environment and climate of the time when ammonites lived by examining their fossils.

Word Variants:

• Ammonitic (adjective): Relating to or resembling ammonites. For example: "The ammonitic limestone contained many fossilized shells."
• Ammonoid (noun): A term that refers to the group of extinct marine mollusks that includes ammonites.

Different Meanings:

• The primary meaning of "ammonite" refers to the fossil shells. There are no significant alternative meanings for this term, but it may sometimes be used in a more poetic or metaphorical sense to describe something that is spiral or coiled.

Synonyms:

• Fossil (in a very broad sense)
• Shell (when referring specifically to the shell aspect)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include the word "ammonite," but you might hear it in phrases related to fossil hunting or geology.

Summary:

An ammonite is a fascinating fossil that represents a group of ancient sea creatures. They have spiral shells and are important for understanding Earth's history.

Academic

Noun

1. one of the coiled chambered fossil shells of extinct mollusks

Synonyms

• ammonoid