epoch

noun

ep·och ˈe-pək How to pronounce epoch (audio)

ˈe-ˌpäk,

US also and British usually

ˈē-ˌpäk

: an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development

: a memorable event or date

: an extended period of time usually characterized by a distinctive development or by a memorable series of events

: a division of geologic time less than a period and greater than an age

: an instant of time or a date selected as a point of reference (as in astronomy)

Did you know?

Epoch comes to us, via Medieval Latin, from Greek epochē, meaning "cessation" or "fixed point." "Epochē," in turn, comes from the Greek verb epechein, meaning "to pause" or "to hold back." When "epoch" was first borrowed into English, it referred to the fixed point used to mark the beginning of a system of chronology. That sense is now obsolete, but today "epoch" is used in some fields (such as astronomy) with the meaning "an instant of time or a date selected as a point of reference." The "an event or a time that begins a new period or development" sense first appeared in print in the early 17th century, and "epoch" has been applied to defining moments or periods of time ever since.

Example Sentences

The Civil War era was an epoch in 19th-century U.S. history. The development of the steam engine marked an important epoch in the history of industry.

Recent Examples on the Web The search drew their attention to a layer of sandstone from the Miocene epoch, ranging in age from 5 million to 23 million years old, which lies partly under waters controlled by the state of Texas and stretches into Louisiana.

Wired, 29 July 2022 Humans likely have been in Utah since the Pleistocene epoch, between 15,000 to 20,000 years ago, the high point of Lake Bonneville, according to Baxter’s manuscript, which in part draws upon the work of numerous scientists and historians.

The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 May 2022 These rocks date to an epoch known as the Oligocene, which stretched from 33.9 to 23 million years ago.

Devon Bidal, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2022 The power of the novel lies in the strange personal chemistry by which Holleran is at once the celebrator, the satirist, and the elegist of a defining epoch in our history.

Alan Hollinghurst, The New York Review of Books, 3 Aug. 2022 Far from possessing the epoch-defining power that Victoria did, Elizabeth and her kin now rule mostly over the realms of kitsch and gossip.

Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2022 Orbital epoch of ~1200 UTC confirms that the inert 21t rocket core stage remains in orbit and was not actively deorbited.

Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 26 July 2022 In the classical epoch, man’s speech and his thoughts were directed outward, to people who gathered to listen in the squares and the agoras.

Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 American culture underwent such volcanic changes starting in the mid-Sixties that when American Graffiti arrived in 1973, the movie seemed like a time capsule from an ancient epoch — even though it was set only eleven years earlier.

Kyle Smith, National Review, 21 June 2022 See More

epoch

noun

as in era

an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing Sir Isaac Newton is usually credited with establishing the epoch of modern science

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

era
day
period
time
age
year
generation
cycle
date
while
space
span
vintage
bit
spell
stretch

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of epoch are age, era, and period. While all these words mean "a division of time," epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events.

the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry

The meanings of age and epoch largely overlap; however, age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.

the age of Samuel Johnson

Although the words era and epoch have much in common, era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.

the era of global communications

While in some cases nearly identical to epoch, period may designate an extent of time of any length.

periods of economic prosperity

单词	epoch
释义	epoch noun ep·och ˈe-pək ˈe-ˌpäk, US also and British usually ˈē-ˌpäk 1 a : an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development b : a memorable event or date 2 a : an extended period of time usually characterized by a distinctive development or by a memorable series of events b : a division of geologic time less than a period and greater than an age 3 : an instant of time or a date selected as a point of reference (as in astronomy) Did you know? Epoch comes to us, via Medieval Latin, from Greek epochē, meaning "cessation" or "fixed point." "Epochē," in turn, comes from the Greek verb epechein, meaning "to pause" or "to hold back." When "epoch" was first borrowed into English, it referred to the fixed point used to mark the beginning of a system of chronology. That sense is now obsolete, but today "epoch" is used in some fields (such as astronomy) with the meaning "an instant of time or a date selected as a point of reference." The "an event or a time that begins a new period or development" sense first appeared in print in the early 17th century, and "epoch" has been applied to defining moments or periods of time ever since. Synonyms age day era period time See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The Civil War era was an epoch in 19th-century U.S. history. The development of the steam engine marked an important epoch in the history of industry. Recent Examples on the Web The search drew their attention to a layer of sandstone from the Miocene epoch, ranging in age from 5 million to 23 million years old, which lies partly under waters controlled by the state of Texas and stretches into Louisiana. Wired, 29 July 2022 Humans likely have been in Utah since the Pleistocene epoch, between 15,000 to 20,000 years ago, the high point of Lake Bonneville, according to Baxter’s manuscript, which in part draws upon the work of numerous scientists and historians. The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 May 2022 These rocks date to an epoch known as the Oligocene, which stretched from 33.9 to 23 million years ago. Devon Bidal, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2022 The power of the novel lies in the strange personal chemistry by which Holleran is at once the celebrator, the satirist, and the elegist of a defining epoch in our history. Alan Hollinghurst, The New York Review of Books, 3 Aug. 2022 Far from possessing the epoch-defining power that Victoria did, Elizabeth and her kin now rule mostly over the realms of kitsch and gossip. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2022 Orbital epoch of ~1200 UTC confirms that the inert 21t rocket core stage remains in orbit and was not actively deorbited. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 26 July 2022 In the classical epoch, man’s speech and his thoughts were directed outward, to people who gathered to listen in the squares and the agoras. Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 American culture underwent such volcanic changes starting in the mid-Sixties that when American Graffiti arrived in 1973, the movie seemed like a time capsule from an ancient epoch — even though it was set only eleven years earlier. Kyle Smith, National Review, 21 June 2022 See More Word History Etymology Medieval Latin epocha, from Greek epochē cessation, fixed point, from epechein to pause, hold back, from epi- + echein to hold — more at scheme entry 1 First Known Use 1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Phrases Containing epoch epoch-making epoch-making Kids Definition epoch noun ep·och ˈe-pək : a period that is important or memorable epoch noun as in era an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing Sir Isaac Newton is usually credited with establishing the epoch of modern science Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance era day period time age year generation cycle date while space span vintage bit spell stretch Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of epoch are age, era, and period. While all these words mean "a division of time," epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events. the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry The meanings of age and epoch largely overlap; however, age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature. the age of Samuel Johnson Although the words era and epoch have much in common, era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things. the era of global communications While in some cases nearly identical to epoch, period may designate an extent of time of any length. periods of economic prosperity
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epoch

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing epoch

Kids Definition

noun

noun

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