Cambrian

[kam-bree-uhn]

adjective

1. Geology.,  noting or pertaining to a period of the Paleozoic Era, occurring from 570 million to 500 million years ago, when algae and marine invertebrates were the predominant form of life.

2. of or relating to Cambria; Welsh.

noun

1. Geology.,  the Cambrian Period or System.

2. a native of Cambria; Welshman.

Cambrian

/ ˈkæmbrɪən /

adjective

1. of, denoting, or formed in the first 65 million years of the Palaeozoic era, during which marine invertebrates, esp trilobites, flourished

2. of or relating to Wales

noun

1. the Cambrian period or rock system

2. a Welsh person

Cambrian

1. The first period of the Paleozoic Era, from about 540 to 505 million years ago. During this time warm seas and desert land areas were widespread, and animal life diversified rapidly during what is known as the Cambrian Explosion.

2. See Chart at geologic time

Other Word Forms

• post-Cambrian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cambrian¹

1580–90; < Medieval Latin Cambri ( a ) Wales, Latinization of MWelsh Cymry Wales, literally Welshmen ( Cymry ) + -an

Example Sentences

Fossil evidence of Salterella -- a small, cone-shaped organism abundant in early Cambrian rocks -- reveals an unusual approach to skeleton building.

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“Creativity could be about to go through a Cambrian explosion, and along with it, the quality of art and entertainment can drastically increase,” Altman wrote, calling this genre of engagement “interactive fan fiction.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It flows for 155 miles from its source in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales along the border with England to the Severn Estuary.

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It's not always an absolutely gobsmacking profusion of uncontrollably bizarre life, as occurred with what's aptly called the Cambrian Explosion, a period about 540 million years ago when evolution got extremely creative.

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By Saturday morning, there may be up to 5cm of snow for some places in the Brecon Beacons, eastern Cambrian Mountains and perhaps the higher parts of Exmoor.

Read more on BBC