Precambrian
or Pre-Cam·bri·an
[ pree-kam-bree-uh n, -keym- ]
/ priˈkæm bri ən, -ˈkeɪm- /
adjective
noting or pertaining to the earliest era of earth history, ending 570 million years ago, during which the earth's crust formed and life first appeared in the seas.
noun
the Precambrian Era.
Example sentences from the Web for precambrian
A few explanatory remarks concerning the mode of detection of Precambrian rocks may not be amiss.
The Principles of Stratigraphical Geology |J. E. MarrWe may take our own country as a region where a good development of the Precambrian rocks occurs.
The Principles of Stratigraphical Geology |J. E. MarrThese Torridonian strata furnish us with the most satisfactory group of Precambrian sediments yet detected in Britain.
The Principles of Stratigraphical Geology |J. E. Marr
British Dictionary definitions for precambrian
Precambrian
Pre-Cambrian
/ (priːˈkæmbrɪən) /
adjective
of, denoting, or formed in the earliest geological era, which lasted for about 4 000 000 000 years before the Cambrian period
noun
Scientific definitions for precambrian
Precambrian
[ prē-kăm′brē-ən, -kām′- ]
The period of geologic time between Hadean Time and the Phanerozoic Eon, from about 3.8 billion to 540 million years ago. During the Precambrian Eon, which is divided into the Archean and Proterozoic, primitive forms of life first appeared on Earth. See Chart at geologic time.