micropaleontology

American

[mahy-kroh-pey-lee-uhn-tol-uh-jee, -pal-ee-] / ˌmaɪ kroʊˌpeɪ li ənˈtɒl ə dʒi, -ˌpæl i- /

noun

the branch of paleontology dealing with the study of microscopic fossils.

micropaleontology Scientific

/ mī′krō-pā′lē-ŏn-tŏl′ə-jē /

The branch of paleontology that deals with microfossils.

Other Word Forms

micropaleontologic adjective
micropaleontological adjective
micropaleontologist noun

Etymology

Origin of micropaleontology

First recorded in 1880–85; micro- + paleontology

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.

Malcolm Hart, emeritus professor of micropaleontology at the University of Plymouth in England and the study's lead researcher, explained that the attack was horrific.

From Fox News

“It really shows how tenacious life is,” said Reed Scherer, a micropaleontology professor at Northern Illinois University.

From Washington Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023