facies

American  

[fey-shee-eez, -sheez] / ˈfeɪ ʃiˌiz, -ʃiz /

noun

plural

facies

1. general appearance, as of an animal or vegetable group.

2. Geology. the appearance and characteristics of a sedimentary deposit, especially as they reflect the conditions and environment of deposition and serve to distinguish the deposit from contiguous deposits.

3. Medicine/Medical. a facial expression characteristic of a disease or pathological condition.

4. Archaeology. a distinctive phase of a prehistoric cultural tradition.

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facies British  

/ ˈfeɪʃɪˌiːz /

noun

1. the general form and appearance of an individual or a group of plants or animals

2. the characteristics of a rock or series of rocks reflecting their appearance, composition, and conditions of formation

3. med the general facial expression of a patient, esp when typical of a specific disease or disorder See Hippocratic facies

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facies Scientific  

/ fā′shē-ēz′,-shēz /

plural

facies

1. 1. A body of sedimentary rock distinguished from others by its lithology, geometry, sedimentary structures, proximity to other types of sedimentary rock, and fossil content, and recognized as characteristic of a particular depositional environment.

   2. For a metamorphic rock, the particular combination of pressure and temperature under which metamorphism occurred.

2. The general aspect or makeup of an ecological community, especially a local modification of a community characterized by a conspicuous or abundant species that is absent or less concentrated in other locations.

3. The appearance or expression of the face, especially when typical of a certain disorder or disease.

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Other Word Forms

• subfacies nounsubfacies

Etymology

Origin of facies

1350–1400, for an earlier sense; Middle English < Latin: form, figure, appearance, face, akin to facere to make

Example Sentences

The term facies is an objective description of a rock.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

The first of the Barrovian sequence has a mineral group that is commonly found in the metamorphic greenschist facies.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

Cant, D. J. Fluvial facies models and their application.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

The lowest pressure conditions produce hornfels facies, while higher pressure creates greenschist, amphibolite, or granulite facies.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

Illic cum viridi rubet, Hic et cum rutile viret, Lascivi facies chori.90 Et quicquid rota lubrica Caudae stelligerae notat, Pulchrum pergit et in ambitum.

From The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume II (of 2) by Crashaw, Richard