Ordovician

[ awr-duh-vish-uh n ]
/ ˌɔr dəˈvɪʃ ən /
Geology

adjective

noting or pertaining to a geologic period of the Paleozoic Era, from 500 million to 425 million years ago, notable for the advent of fish.

noun

the Ordovician Period or System.

Origin of Ordovician

1879; after the Ordovices (plural) (< Latin) an ancient British tribe in N Wales, where rocks characterizing the period were found; see -ian

OTHER WORDS FROM Ordovician

post-Or·do·vi·cian, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for ordovician

British Dictionary definitions for ordovician

Ordovician
/ (ˌɔːdəʊˈvɪʃɪən) /

adjective

of, denoting, or formed in the second period of the Palaeozoic era, between the Cambrian and Silurian periods, which lasted for 45 000 000 years during which marine invertebrates flourished

noun

the Ordovician the Ordovician period or rock system

Word Origin for Ordovician

C19: from Latin Ordovices ancient Celtic tribe in N Wales

Scientific definitions for ordovician

Ordovician
[ ôr′də-vĭshən ]

The second period of the Paleozoic Era, from about 505 to 438 million years ago. During this time most of the Earth's landmasses were gathered in the supercontinent Gondwanaland, located in the Southern Hemisphere. Much of this continent was submerged under shallow seas, and marine invertebrates, including trilobites, brachiopods, graptolites, and conodonts were widespread. The first primitive fishes appeared; some evidence suggests the first land plants may also have appeared at this time. By the end of the Ordovician massive glaciers formed on Gondwanaland, causing sea levels to drop and approximately 60 percent of all known marine invertebrates to become extinct. See Chart at geologic time.