Illinoian
Americannoun
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Geology. the third stage of the glaciation of North America during the Pleistocene.
adjective
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Geology. of or relating to the Illinoian stage.
Etymology
Origin of Illinoian
An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; Illinoi(s) + -an
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Most of these are named, nearly always awkwardly, after places: Illinoian, Desmoinesian, Croixian, Kimmeridgian, and so on in like vein.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
Wondering if, for no good reason I started thinking about Sears and Roebuck or Shake ’n Bake, would it be because some Illinoian had thought it two days ago.
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
The S. obscurus from Conard Fissure probably represents the ancestral S. vagrans stock which I think reached eastern United States in Illinoian time and gave rise to S. longirostris.
From Speciation of the Wandering Shrew by James S. Findley
"The stout Illinoian," not finding the laugh, "after a short trial walks out of the hall."
From The Last Harvest by John Burroughs
The ancient channel which it held along the Illinoian ice front has been traced through southeastern Iowa for many miles.
From The Elements of Geology by William Harmon Norton
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