| 释义 |
ep·och
\ˈepək also ˈeˌpäk sometimes ˈēˌpäk or ˈepik or ˈepēk\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Medieval Latin or New Latin epocha, from Greek epochē stoppage, cessation, suspension of judgment, position in space or fixed point in time, from epechein to hold back, pause, from epi- + echein to hold, have — more at scheme
1.
a. obsolete
(1) : the fixed point from which years are numbered in a system of chronology (as in the Greek olympiads) usually determined by an important event (as the birth of Christ)
< a different epoch to account by, … the hegira they have from Muhammad — Thomas Herbert >
(2) : era 1
b. astronomy : an instant of time or a date selected as a point of reference for which are given values of the data under consideration
< the heliocentric position at a certain zero epoch, say 1950.000 — Popular Astronomy >
2.
a. : an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development : a new beginning
< we two … made an epoch in the criticism of the theater … by making it a pretext for a propaganda of our own views of life — G.B.Shaw >
: turning point
b. : a memorable event or date
< the child's first sight of the circus parade was an epoch in his life >
c. : time 8a
< the epoch of the completion of a thousand years from the birth of Christ — C.E.Norton >
3. : an extended period of time usually characterized by a distinctive development or by a memorable series of events
< the feudal epoch >
< the Napoleonic epoch >
< Dante's work … initiated a new epoch in literature — R.A.Hall b. 1911 >
< his college years were a happy epoch in his life >
as
a. : a division of geologic time : episode; specifically : a division of geologic time less than a period and greater than an age
< the Niagara epoch of the Silurian Period >
— see geologic time table
b. : a period of time during which a particular type of culture is dominant in an area
< Magdalenian epoch >
4.
a. : the value of the phase angle of a periodic process (as an alternating current or small oscillations of a pendulum) at the selected zero of time
b. : tidal epoch
Synonyms: see period |