uniformitarian
[ yoo-nuh-fawr-mi-tair-ee-uh n ]
/ ˌyu nəˌfɔr mɪˈtɛər i ən /
adjective
supporting, conforming to, or derived from a theory or doctrine about uniformity, especially on the subject of geology.
Geology.
of or relating to the thesis that processes that operated in the remote geological past are not different from those observed now.
noun
a person who accepts or supports a uniformitarian theory.
Origin of uniformitarian
First recorded in 1830–40;
uniformit(y) +
-arian
OTHER WORDS FROM uniformitarian
u·ni·form·i·tar·i·an·ism, nounWords nearby uniformitarian
uniform,
uniform business rate,
uniform crime report,
uniform resource locator,
uniformed,
uniformitarian,
uniformitarianism,
uniformity,
uniformize,
unify,
uniglandular
Example sentences from the Web for uniformitarianism
British Dictionary definitions for uniformitarianism (1 of 2)
uniformitarianism
/ (ˌjuːnɪˌfɔːmɪˈtɛərɪəˌnɪzəm) /
noun
the concept that the earth's surface was shaped in the past by gradual processes, such as erosion, and by small sudden changes, such as earthquakes, of the type acting today rather than by the sudden divine acts, such as the flood survived by Noah (Genesis 6–8), demanded by the doctrine of catastrophism
British Dictionary definitions for uniformitarianism (2 of 2)
uniformitarian
/ (ˌjuːnɪˌfɔːmɪˈtɛərɪən) /
adjective
of or relating to uniformitarianism
of, characterized by, or conforming to uniformity
noun
a supporter of a theory of uniformity or of uniformitarianism
Scientific definitions for uniformitarianism
uniformitarianism
[ yōō′nə-fôr′mĭ-târ′ē-ə-nĭz′əm ]
The theory that all geologic phenomena may be explained as the result of existing forces having operated uniformly from the origin of the Earth to the present time. See Note at Lyell.