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eon
eon
1. The largest geologic-time unit, incorporating a number of eras. The equivalent chronostratigraphic unit is the (little used) eonothem. Originally, two eons were proposed in 1930 by G. H. Chadwick. The younger was the Phanerozoic Eon (the time of evident life), comprising the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Palaeozoic Eras, and this term is still used. The term suggested for the preceding eon was the Cryptozoic (the time of hidden life). This time has also been called the Archaeozoic (the time of most ancient life), but most commonly has been known simply as the Precambrian. Three eons have been proposed for Precambrian time: the Priscoan for time before 4000 Ma ago; the Archaean for 4000–2500 Ma ago; and the Proterozoic for 2500–590 Ma ago; the term ‘Precambrian’ is still in frequent use but is informal. 2. A time unit of 109 present Earth years. |
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "eon." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "eon." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-eon.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "eon." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-eon.html |
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eon
eon
1. The largest geologic-time unit, incorporating a number of eras. The equivalent chronostratigraphic unit is the eonothem. Originally, two eons were proposed in 1930 by G. H. Chadwick. The younger was the Phanerozoic Eon (time of evident life), comprising the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Palaeozoic Eras, and this term is still used. The term suggested for the preceding eon was the Cryptozoic (time of hidden life). This time has also been called the Archaeozoic (time of most ancient life), but most commonly has been known simply as the Precambrian. Three eons have been proposed for Precambrian time: the Priscoan for time before 4000 Ma ago; the Archaean for 4000–2500 Ma ago; and the Proterozoic for 2500–590 Ma ago; the term ‘Precambrian’ is still in frequent use but is informal. 2. A time unit of 109 present Earth years. |
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Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "eon." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "eon." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-eon.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "eon." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-eon.html |
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eon
e·on / ˈēən; ˈēˌän/ (chiefly Brit. also ae·on) • n. (often eons) an indefinite and very long period of time, often a period exaggerated for humorous or rhetorical effect: he reached the crag eons before I arrived. ∎ Astron. & Geol. a unit of time equal to a billion years. ∎ Geol. a major division of geological time, subdivided into eras: the Precambrian eon. ∎ Philos. (in Neoplatonism, Platonism, and Gnosticism) a power existing from eternity; an emanation or phase of the supreme deity. |
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Cite this article
"eon." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "eon." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-eon.html "eon." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-eon.html |
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eon
eon see AEON.
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T. F. HOAD. "eon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "eon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-eon.html T. F. HOAD. "eon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-eon.html |
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eon
eon See Aeon.
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Cite this article
"eon." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "eon." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-eon.html "eon." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-eon.html |
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eon
eon
•Eritrean, Ghanaian, Himalayan, Malayan, Tigrayan
•Actaeon, Aegean, aeon (US eon), Augean, Behan, Cadmean, Caribbean, Carolean, Chaldean, Cyclopean, empyrean, epicurean, European, Fijian, Galilean, Hasmonean, Hebridean, Herculean, Ian, Jacobean, Kampuchean, Laodicean, lien, Linnaean (US Linnean), Maccabean, Mandaean (US Mandean), Medicean, monogenean, Nabataean (US Nabatean), Orphean, paean, paeon, pean, peon, Periclean, piscean, plebeian, Pyrenean, Pythagorean, Sabaean, Sadducean, Sisyphean, skean, Tanzanian, Tennesseean, Terpsichorean, theodicean, Tyrolean
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Cite this article
"eon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "eon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-eon.html "eon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-eon.html |
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