dendrochronology
[ den-droh-kruh-nol-uh-jee ]
/ ˌdɛn droʊ krəˈnɒl ə dʒi /
noun
the science dealing with the study of the annual rings of trees in determining the dates and chronological order of past events.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
dendritic keratitis, dendritic process, dendritic spine, dendro-, dendrobium, dendrochronology, dendrogram, dendroid, dendrological, dendrologist, dendrologous
Origin of dendrochronology
Related formsden·dro·chron·o·log·i·cal [den-droh-kron-l-oj-i-kuh l] /ˌdɛn droʊˌkrɒn lˈɒdʒ ɪ kəl/, adjectiveden·dro·chron·o·log·i·cal·ly, adverbden·dro·chro·nol·o·gist, noun
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for dendrochronology
dendrochronology
/ (ˌdɛndrəʊkrəˈnɒlədʒɪ) /
noun
the study of the annual rings of trees, used esp to date past events
Derived Formsdendrochronological (ˌdɛndrəʊˌkrɒnəˈlɒdʒɪkəl), adjectivedendrochronologist, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for dendrochronology
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Science definitions for dendrochronology
dendrochronology
[ dĕn′drō-krə-nŏl′ə-jē ]
The study of growth rings in trees for the purpose of analyzing past climate conditions or determining the dates of past events. Because trees grow more slowly in periods of drought or other environmental stress than they do under more favorable conditions, the size of the rings they produce varies. Analyzing the pattern of a tree's rings provides information about the environmental changes that took place during the period in which it was growing. Matching the pattern in trees whose age is known to the pattern in wood found at an archaeological site can establish the age at which the wood was cut and thus the approximate date of the site. By comparing living trees with old lumber and finding overlapping ring patterns, scientists have established chronological records for some species that go back as far as 9,000 years.
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