era

[ eer-uh, er-uh ]
/ ˈɪər ə, ˈɛr ə /

noun

a period of time marked by distinctive character, events, etc.: The use of steam for power marked the beginning of an era.
the period of time to which anything belongs or is to be assigned: She was born in the era of hansoms and gaslight.
a system of chronologic notation reckoned from a given date: The era of the Romans was based upon the time the city of Rome was founded.
a point of time from which succeeding years are numbered, as at the beginning of a system of chronology: Caesar died many years before our era.
a date or an event forming the beginning of any distinctive period: The year 1492 marks an era in world history.
Geology. a major division of geologic time composed of a number of periods.

Origin of era

1605–15; < Late Latin aera fixed date, era, epoch (from which time is reckoned), probably special use of Latin aera counters (plural of aes piece of metal, money, brass); cognate with Gothic aiz, Old English ār ore, Sanskrit ayas metal

synonym study for era

1. See age.

Definition for era (2 of 2)

ERA

Also era Baseball. earned run average.
Emergency Relief Administration.
Equal Rights Amendment: proposed 27th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex.

Example sentences from the Web for era

British Dictionary definitions for era (1 of 2)

era
/ (ˈɪərə) /

noun

a period of time considered as being of a distinctive character; epoch
an extended period of time the years of which are numbered from a fixed point or event the Christian era
a point in time, esp one beginning a new or distinctive period the discovery of antibiotics marked an era in modern medicine
geology a major division of geological time, divided into several periods the Mesozoic era

Word Origin for era

C17: from Latin aera counters, plural of aes brass, pieces of brass money

British Dictionary definitions for era (2 of 2)

ERA
/ (ˈiːrə) /

n acronym for

(in Britain) Education Reform Act: the 1988 act which established the key elements of the National Curriculum
(in the US) Equal Rights Amendment: a proposed amendment to the US Constitution enshrining equality between the sexes

Scientific definitions for era

era
[ îrə ]

A division of geologic time, longer than a period and shorter than an eon.