Paleozoic

[ pey-lee-uh-zoh-ik or, esp. British, pal-ee- ]

/ ˌpeɪ li əˈzoʊ ɪk or, esp. British, ˌpæl i- /

Geology

adjective

noting or pertaining to an era occurring between 570 million and 230 million years ago, characterized by the advent of fish, insects, and reptiles.

noun

the Paleozoic Era or group of systems.

Origin of Paleozoic

1830–40; paleo- + -zoic < Greek zōïkós pertaining to animals; see zo-, -ic

Related forms

post-Pa·le·o·zo·ic, adjectivepre-Pa·le·o·zo·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for paleozoic

Those which grew to be fifteen to twenty-five feet long were probably the rulers of the middle Paleozoic seas.
Geology|William J. Miller
Nearly all the Paleozoic forms had long, straight hinge lines, which made it difficult for their enemies to open them.
Geology|William J. Miller
Their intricate tooth structure and limblike fins strongly suggest the amphibians of later Paleozoic time.
Geology|William J. Miller
The coal we burn to-day is mainly the remains of the wonderful growth of the flowerless vegetation of the Paleozoic Ace.
The Prehistoric World|E. A. Allen

Paleozoic means "ancient life;" Mesozoic, "middle life;" Cenozoic, "recent life."
Famous Men of Science|Sarah K. Bolton

Science definitions for paleozoic

Paleozoic

[ pā′lē-ə-zō′ĭk ]

The era of geologic time from about 540 to 245 million years ago. The beginning of the Paleozoic Era is characterized by a great diversity of marine invertebrate animals. Primitive fish and reptiles, land plants, and insects also first appeared during this time. The end of the Paleozoic is marked by the largest recorded mass extinction in the Earth's history, which wiped out nearly 90% of known marine life forms. See Chart at geologic time.