Devonian
[ duh-voh-nee-uh n ]
/ dəˈvoʊ ni ən /
adjective
Geology.
noting or pertaining to a period of the Paleozoic Era, 405 to 345 million years ago, characterized by the dominance of fishes and the advent of amphibians and ammonites.
of or relating to Devonshire, England.
noun
Geology.
the Devonian Period or System.
Origin of Devonian
1605–15; < Medieval Latin
Devoni(a) Devon +
-an
OTHER WORDS FROM Devonian
post-De·vo·ni·an, adjectiveExample sentences from the Web for devonian
British Dictionary definitions for devonian
Devonian
/ (dəˈvəʊnɪən) /
adjective
of, denoting, or formed in the fourth period of the Palaeozoic era, between the Silurian and Carboniferous periods, lasting 60-70 million years during which amphibians first appeared
of or relating to Devon
noun
the Devonian
the Devonian period or rock system
Scientific definitions for devonian
Devonian
[ dĭ-vō′nē-ən ]
The fourth period of the Paleozoic Era, from about 408 to 360 million years ago. During this time there were three major landmasses: most of modern day North America and Europe were located along the equator; a portion of Siberia was located to the north; and a continent consisting of South America, Australia, Africa, India, and Antarctica was located in the Southern Hemisphere. In the early Devonian small plants dominated the landscape, but by the end of the Devonian ferns and seed plants had appeared, as had the first forests. The first tetrapods (terrestrial vertebrates) and terrestrial arthropods appeared, as did many new types of fish. See Chart at geologic time.