Paleozoic
[pey-lee-uh-zoh-ik or, esp. British, pal-ee-]Geology
- noting or pertaining to an era occurring between 570 million and 230 million years ago, characterized by the advent of fish, insects, and reptiles.
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- the Paleozoic Era or group of systems.
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Origin of Paleozoic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for paleozoic
Historical Examples
The period following on after Archean time is called, by geologists, Paleozoic time.
The Prehistoric WorldE. A. Allen
It is but a glimpse we get into the immeasurable distance of the Paleozoic.
The Guardians of the ColumbiaJohn H. (John Harvey) Williams
They existed only during the first half of the Paleozoic era.
GeologyWilliam J. Miller
Cambrian , the first period of the Paleozoic era,—that of the first abundance of marine animals.
Unexplored!Allen Chaffee
See what it means to tell these kids about the Paleozoic age and sich, Ruthie!
The Corner House Girls' Odd FindGrace Brooks Hill
Word Origin and History for paleozoic
Paleozoic
adj.
in reference to the geological era between the Precambrian and the Mesozoic, 1838, coined by Adam Sedgwick (1785-1873) from paleo- + Greek zoe "life."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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