paleontology
[ pey-lee-uh n-tol-uh-jee or, esp. British, pal-ee- ]
/ ˌpeɪ li ənˈtɒl ə dʒi or, esp. British, ˌpæl i- /
noun, plural pa·le·on·tol·o·gies for 2.
the science of the forms of life existing in former geologic periods, as represented by their fossils.
a treatise on paleontology.
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Origin of paleontology
OTHER WORDS FROM paleontology
pa·le·on·to·log·ic [pey-lee-on-tl-oj-ik or, esp. British, pal-ee-] /ˌpeɪ liˌɒn tlˈɒdʒ ɪk or, esp. British, ˌpæl i-/, pa·le·on·to·log·i·cal, adjectivepa·le·on·to·log·i·cal·ly, adverbpa·le·on·tol·o·gist, nounWords nearby paleontology
paleolithic man, paleology, paleomagnetism, paleon., paleontol., paleontology, paleopathology, paleopedology, paleosiberian, paleosol, paleostriatum
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for paleontology
Scientific definitions for paleontology
paleontology
[ pā′lē-ŏn-tŏl′ə-jē ]
The scientific study of life in the geologic past, especially through the study of animal and plant fossils.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for paleontology
paleontology
[ (pay-lee-uhn-tol-uh-jee) ]
The study of ancient life forms, particularly as they are seen in fossils.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.