Permian

[pur-mee-uhn]

adjective

1. Geology.,  noting or pertaining to a period of the Paleozoic Era occurring from about 280 to 230 million years ago and characterized by a profusion of amphibian species.

noun

1. Geology.,  the Permian Period or System.

2. Permic.

Permian

/ ˈpɜːmɪən /

adjective

1. of, denoting, or formed in the last period of the Palaeozoic era, between the Carboniferous and Triassic periods, which lasted for 60 000 000 years

noun

1. the Permian period or rock system

Permian

1. The seventh and last period of the Paleozoic Era, from about 286 to 245 million years ago. During the Permian Period the supercontinent Pangaea, comprising almost all of today's landmasses, formed. Gymnosperms evolved, the first modern conifers appeared, and reptiles diversified. The Permian Period ended with the largest known mass extinction in the history of life. It wiped out nearly 90 percent of known marine life forms.

2. See Chart at geologic time

Other Word Forms

• post-Permian adjective
• pre-Permian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Permian¹

First recorded in 1835–45; Perm + -ian

Word History and Origins

Origin of Permian¹

C19: after _Perm , Russia

Example Sentences

Targa Resources agreed to acquire Stakeholder Midstream, which provides natural gas gathering and processing services in the Permian Basin, for $1.25 billion in cash.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But beyond the procedurals for which Wolf is famous, along with a few bright comedies, the broadcast primetime landscape is as creatively sparse as the dry brush covering the Permian Basin.

Read more on Salon

The British energy major said Monday that it would sell stakes in the assets, which are operated by its U.S. onshore oil and gas business BPX in the Permian and Eagle Ford basins.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Both companies have invested heavily in the Permian Basin, a shale-rich area in Texas and New Mexico, while also pursuing projects in international hotspots.

Read more on Barron's

These headwinds were partially offset by volume growth in the Permian Basin, the largest U.S. oil field, where the company said it set a production record of nearly 1.7 million oil-equivalent barrels per day.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal