Miocene

[ mahy-uh-seen ]
/ ˈmaɪ əˌsin /
Geology

adjective

noting or pertaining to an epoch of the Tertiary Period, occurring from 25 to 10 million years ago, when grazing mammals became widespread.

noun

the Miocene Epoch or Series.

Origin of Miocene

1825–35; mio- (< Greek meíōn less) + -cene

OTHER WORDS FROM Miocene

post-Mi·o·cene, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for miocene

British Dictionary definitions for miocene

Miocene
/ (ˈmaɪəˌsiːn) /

adjective

of, denoting, or formed in the fourth epoch of the Tertiary period, between the Oligocene and Pliocene epochs, which lasted for 19 million years

noun

the Miocene this epoch or rock series

Word Origin for Miocene

C19: from Greek meiōn less + -cene

Scientific definitions for miocene

Miocene
[ mīə-sēn′ ]

The fourth epoch of the Tertiary Period, from about 24 to 5 million years ago. During this time the climate was warmer than it had been in the Oligocene, and kelp forests and grasslands first developed. With the isolation of Antarctica, a circumpolar ocean current was established in the southern Hemisphere, reducing the amount of mixing of cold polar water and warm equatorial water and causing a buildup of ice sheets in Antarctica. The African-Arabian plate became connected to Asia, closing the seaway which had previously separated Africa from Asia. Mammalian diversity was at its peak. See Chart at geologic time.