Hutton

[ huht-n ]

noun

1. James, 1726–97, Scottish geologist: formulated uniformitarianism.

Hutton

/ ˈhʌtən /

noun

1. HuttonJames17261797MScottishSCIENCE: geologist James. 1726–97, Scottish geologist, regarded as the founder of modern geology
2. HuttonSir Leonard19161990MEnglishSPORT AND GAMES: cricketer Sir Leonard, known as Len Hutton . 1916–90, English cricketer; the first professional captain of England (1953)

Hutton

/ hŭt′n /

1. Scottish geologist whose theories of rock and land formation laid the foundation for modern geology. He showed that, over long periods of time, the erosion of rocks produces sediments, which are transported by water, ice, and air to locations at or near sea level. These sediments eventually become solidified into other rocks.

Biography

The father of modern geology did not start out as a geologist. He first apprenticed with a lawyer and then earned a degree in medicine. But after he inherited some land, he decided to devote himself to agriculture, and this led him to think about the origin of soil and its relation to the rest of the landscape, especially the rocks. Based upon his observations, he concluded that old rocks are pushed upwards to become mountains, that new rocks form from the emergence and solidification of lava, and that the driving energy for both of these processes must be the Earth's internal heat. He also concluded that soil forms from rocks through the long process of weathering. In this way Hutton developed the idea that the soil, the rocks, and the landscape were all connected in a single process, which he called Plutonism, in honor of Pluto, the Greek god of the underworld. Hutton realized that the cycle of uplift and erosion required a long time and that the Earth must therefore be much older than a few thousand years, as was widely believed at the time. But it was not until the twentieth century that Hutton's theory was proven correct when geologists, using a technique called radiometric dating, demonstrated that the Earth is in fact more than four billion years old.

Example Sentences

Byrne said Wilkie repeatedly told him to find a way to distribute the information he had obtained about Goldstein and also told Hutton to get Cashour to “do something.”

From ProPublica

Thompson took over when his predecessor, Greg Dyke, resigned in the wake of the Hutton Report in 2004.

From The Daily Beast

When Hutton Gibson filed for divorce last month, Joye Gibson was “baffled,” according to the petition.

From The Daily Beast

His models included Julianne Moore, Rita Wilson, Lauren Hutton, and Beyoncé Knowles.

From The Daily Beast

His father, Hutton Gibson, is an outspoken religious zealot who has said the Holocaust never happened.

From The Daily Beast

“You do what you have to do,” boomed Hutton to no one in particular.

From The Daily Beast

Hutton Lake, Wyoming, is the home of a serpent queen, whose breathing may be seen in the bubbles that well up in the centre.

From Project Gutenberg

Hutton's original hypothesis, and not the modifications of it introduced by the Neptu-Vulcanists, were adverted to in reply.

From Project Gutenberg

At least, one objection to Hutton's views would be removed by modifying his theory in the manner it seems to be by Bakewell.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Laurence Hutton discovered but Mr. Millet appropriated it: its sweetness was wasted until he began to distil and bottle it.

From Project Gutenberg

Hereupon a regular scramble took place for the carcass of Mr Hutton Bagsby.

From Project Gutenberg