Pliocene

[ plahy-uh-seen ]
/ ˈplaɪ əˌsin /
Geology

adjective

noting or pertaining to an epoch of the Tertiary Period, occurring from 10 to 2 million years ago, and characterized by increased size and numbers of mammals, by the growth of mountains, and by global climatic cooling.

noun

the Pliocene Epoch or Series.

Origin of Pliocene

First recorded in 1825–35; plio- + -cene

OTHER WORDS FROM Pliocene

post-Pli·o·cene, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for pliocene

British Dictionary definitions for pliocene

Pliocene

Pleiocene

/ (ˈplaɪəʊˌsiːn) /

adjective

of, denoting, or formed in the last epoch of the Tertiary period, which lasted for three million years, during which many modern mammals appeared

noun

the Pliocene the Pliocene epoch or rock series

Word Origin for Pliocene

C19: plio- + -cene, from Greek kainos recent

Scientific definitions for pliocene

Pliocene
[ plīə-sēn′ ]

The fifth and last epoch of the Tertiary Period, from about 5 to 2 million years ago. During this time the global climate became cooler and the number and expanse of grasslands and savannas increased greatly. This change in vegetation was accompanied by an increase in long-legged grazers. The land bridge between North America and South America also formed at this time, and massive ice sheets accumulated at the poles. In the later part of the epoch many of the species living in polar regions became extinct. See Chart at geologic time.