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.

Origin of Cambrian

1
1580–90; <Medieval Latin Cambri(a) Wales, Latinization of MWelsh Cymry Wales, literally Welshmen (see Cymry) + -an

Other words from Cambrian

  • post-Cam·bri·an, adjective

Words Nearby Cambrian

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How to use Cambrian in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Cambrian

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 the Cambrian period or rock system

  2. a Welsh person

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for Cambrian

Cambrian

[ kămbrē-ən, kām- ]


  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. See Chart at geologic time.

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