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Oligocene
6 dictionary results for: Oligocene
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
Ol·i·go·cene 
[ol-i-goh-seen] Pronunciation Key Geology
[ol-i-goh-seen] Pronunciation Key Geology –adjective
–noun
| 1. | noting or pertaining to an epoch of the Tertiary Period, occurring from 40 to 25 million years ago. |
| 2. | the Oligocene Epoch or Series. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| Ol·i·go·cene
(ŏl'ĭ-gō-sēn', ō'lĭ-) Pronunciation Key
adj. Of or belonging to the geologic time, rock series, or sedimentary deposits of the third epoch of the Tertiary Period, characterized by futher development of modern mammalian fauna, including the rise of the true carnivores and their gradual replacement of the creodonts. See Table at geologic time. n. The Oligocene Epoch or its system of deposits. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Oligocene
Oligocene
1859, "pertaining to the Tertiary period between the Eocene and the Miocene," coined in Ger. (1854), from Gk. oligos "small, little, few" (of unknown origin) + kainos "recent."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| oligocene | |
noun | |
| from 40 million to 25 million years ago; appearance of sabertoothed cats |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| Oligocene
(ŏl'ĭ-gō-sēn') Pronunciation Key
The third epoch of the Tertiary Period, from about 37 to 24 million years ago. During this time there was an increase in volcanic activity, and Australia and South America separated from Antarctica. The climate started to cool and a glacier started to form in Antarctica. Modern mammalian groups continued to develop, and the first cats, dogs, horses, and related mammals appeared. Artiodactyls (even-toed ungulates) took over from the perissodactyls (uneven-toed ungulates) as the dominant medium-sized herbivores. Many types of grass also first appeared at this time. See Chart at geologic time. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Oligocene
Ol"i*go*cene\, a. [Oligo- + Gr. ? new, recent.] (Geol.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, certain strata which occupy an intermediate position between the Eocene and Miocene periods. -- n. The Oligocene period. See the Chart of Geology.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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