epoch
- epoch
-
/ep"euhk/ or, esp. Brit., /ee"pok/, n.
1. a particular period of time marked by distinctive features, events, etc.: The treaty ushered in an epoch of peace and good will.
2. the beginning of a distinctive period in the history of anything: The splitting of the atom marked an epoch in scientific discovery.
3. a point of time distinguished by a particular event or state of affairs; a memorable date: His coming of age was an epoch in his life.
4. Geol. any of several divisions of a geologic period during which a geologic series is formed. Cf.
age (
def. 12). See table under
geologic time.
5. Astron.
a. an arbitrarily fixed instant of time or date, usually the beginning of a century or half century, used as a reference in giving the elements of a planetary orbit or the like.
b. the mean longitude of a planet as seen from the sun at such an instant or date.
6. Physics. the displacement from zero at zero time of a body undergoing simple harmonic motion.
[
1605-15; < NL epocha < Gk epoché pause, check, fixed time, equiv. to ep- EP- + och- (var. s. of échein to have) + -e n. suffix]
Syn. 1. age, date, era, time. See
age.
* * *
I
Unit of geologic time during which a rock series is deposited.
It is a subdivision of a geologic
period. Additional distinctions can be made by adding relative time terms, such as early, middle, and late. The use of the term is usually restricted to divisions of the
Tertiary and Quaternary periods.
(as used in expressions)
Recent Epoch
Palaeocene Epoch
* * *
unit of geological time during which a rock series is deposited. It is a subdivision of a geological
period and the word is capitalized when employed in a formal sense (
e.g., Pleistocene Epoch). Additional distinctions can be made by appending relative time terms, such as early, middle, and late. The use of “epoch” is usually restricted to divisions of the Tertiary and Quaternary periods.
* * *
Universalium.
2010.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
Epoch — Ep och ([e^]p [o^]k or [=e] p[o^]k; 277), n. [LL. epocha, Gr. epochh check, stop, an epoch of a star, an historical epoch, fr. epe chein to hold on, check; epi upon + e chein to have, hold; akin to Skr. sah to overpower, Goth. sigis victory, AS.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
epoch — 1. An epoch is the beginning of a distinctive period in the history of something or someone, whereas an era is a period of history characterized by particular circumstances or by a particular series of events. A period is a more general term for… … Modern English usage
Epoch Co. — Epoch Co., Ltd. is a Japanese toy and computer games company founded in 1958 which is best known for manufacturing Barcode Battler and Doraemon video games. Its current Representative President is Road Yutaka MaedaHistoryFounded in May 1958 by… … Wikipedia
Epoch — (dt. Epoche) bezeichnet im deutschen Sprachgebrauch die Epoche der Unixzeit zwei US amerikanische Science Fiction Filme, siehe Torus – Das Geheimnis aus einer anderen Welt (Epoch), Epoch: Evolution (2003) einen japanischen Hersteller von… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Epoch — Epoch неоднозначный термин. Возможные значения: Epoch японская компания по производству детских игрушек. Unix Epoch UNIX время, система описания моментов во времени, принятая в UNIX … Википедия
epoch — [ep′ək; ] also [ ep′äk΄; ] Cdn & Brit usually [ ē′päk΄] n. [ML epocha < Gr epochē, a check, cessation < epechein, to hold in, check < epi , upon + echein, to hold: see SCHEME] 1. the beginning of a new and important period in the history … English World dictionary
epoch — index age, cycle, duration, lifetime, period, phase (period) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
epoch — 1610s, epocha, point marking the start of a new period in time (e.g. the founding of Rome, the birth of Christ, the Hegira), from L.L. epocha, from Gk. epokhe stoppage, fixed point of time, from epekhein to pause, take up a position, from epi on… … Etymology dictionary
epoch — era, age, *period, aeon … New Dictionary of Synonyms
epoch — [n] period age, date, era, span, time; concepts 807,822 … New thesaurus
epoch — ► NOUN 1) a period of time marked by particular events or characteristics. 2) the beginning of a period of history. 3) Geology a division of time that is a subdivision of a period and is itself subdivided into ages. DERIVATIVES epochal adjective … English terms dictionary
