Iapetus

[ahy-ap-i-tuhs, ee-ap-]

noun

1. Classical Mythology.,  a Titan, son of Uranus and Gaia.

2. Astronomy.,  a natural satellite of the planet Saturn.

Iapetus

/ aɪˈæpɪtəs /

noun

1. a large outer satellite of the planet Saturn

Word History and Origins

Origin of Iapetus¹

First recorded in 1600–20; Latin Īapetus, from Greek Īapetós; further origin uncertain; probably from the same source as Hebrew Yepheth; Japheth ( def. )

Example Sentences

During her presentation, a fellow student interrupted her with a question about the rotation of Saturn’s moon Iapetus.

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In some, the lost moon collided with Titan or Iapetus; in others it was ejected from the Saturn system altogether.

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At the sedimentary cliffs of Green Point, we saw fossils from the ancient Iapetus Ocean.

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The thinning, flattening crust created a shallow rift that eventually filled with water, which geologists call the Iapetus Ocean.

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Around 460 million years ago, the Iapetus began closing as various continental masses converged and collided, and masses of rocks piled up to eventually form the Appalachians.

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