epoch
1 of 1noun/ˈɛpək/
Forms:epochs
1
a period of time in history or someone's life, during which significant events happen
- The Renaissance was an epoch of great cultural and artistic achievements in Europe.
- For the scientist, the discovery of the new element marked the beginning of a revolutionary epoch in chemistry.
- The Industrial Revolution was an epoch that transformed economies and societies around the world.
- Her time at university represented a defining epoch in her life, shaping her future career and personal growth.
- The Civil Rights Movement was an epoch of profound social change and progress in the United States.
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2
a subdivision of a geologic period, characterized by distinctive and globally recognizable rock layers, fossils, and significant changes in Earth's climate and biota
- Each epoch in Earth's history is defined by unique climate and life forms.
- During the Holocene epoch, human civilization developed rapidly.
- Geologists study rock layers from the Cambrian epoch to learn about early life.
- The Mesozoic era includes the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous epochs.
- The Oligocene epoch followed the Eocene and saw significant evolutionary changes.
3
a fixed point in time used as a reference for recording astronomical data, such as the coordinates of celestial bodies
- The positions of stars are given relative to a standard epoch.
- Astronomers update catalogs each epoch to account for changes.
- Observations of the planet were recorded at the current epoch.
- The epoch helps in comparing measurements made at different times.
- Celestial coordinates are always specified with respect to an epoch.
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