epoch
[ ep-uhk or, esp. British, ee-pok ]
/ ˈɛp ək or, esp. British, ˈi pɒk /
noun
a particular period of time marked by distinctive features, events, etc.: The treaty ushered in an epoch of peace and good will.
the beginning of a distinctive period in the history of anything: The splitting of the atom marked an epoch in scientific discovery.
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.
Geology.
any of several divisions of a geologic period during which a geologic series is formed.
Compare age(def 12).
Astronomy.
- 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.
- the mean longitude of a planet as seen from the sun at such an instant or date.
Physics.
the displacement from zero at zero time of a body undergoing simple harmonic motion.
Origin of epoch
1605–15; < New Latin
epocha < Greek
epochḗ pause, check, fixed time, equivalent to
ep-
ep- +
och- (variant stem of
échein to have) +
-ē noun suffix
synonym study for epoch
1. See
age.
OTHER WORDS FROM epoch
sub·ep·och, noun su·per·ep·och, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH epoch
epic epochWords nearby epoch
epizootic lymphangitis,
epizootiology,
epizooty,
epns,
epo,
epoch,
epoch-making,
epochal,
epode,
epoetin alfa,
eponychia
Example sentences from the Web for epoch
British Dictionary definitions for epoch
epoch
/ (ˈiːpɒk) /
noun
a point in time beginning a new or distinctive period
the invention of nuclear weapons marked an epoch in the history of warfare
a long period of time marked by some predominant or typical characteristic; era
astronomy
a precise date to which information, such as coordinates, relating to a celestial body is referred
geology
a unit of geological time within a period during which a series of rocks is formed
the Pleistocene epoch
physics
the displacement of an oscillating or vibrating body at zero time
Derived forms of epoch
epochal (ˈɛpˌɒkəl), adjective epochally, adverbWord Origin for epoch
C17: from New Latin
epocha, from Greek
epokhē cessation; related to
ekhein to hold, have
Scientific definitions for epoch
epoch
[ ĕp′ək, ē′pŏk′ ]
The shortest division of geologic time. An epoch is a subdivision of a period.