Carboniferous
(redirected from Carboniferous era)Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.
Car·bon·if·er·ous
(kär′bə-nĭf′ər-əs)adj.
1. Of, relating to, or being the geologic division of the Paleozoic Era from about 359 to 299 million years ago. The Carboniferous Period follows the Devonian Period and precedes the Permian Period and includes the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian Periods. It is characterized, especially in the Pennsylvanian, by swamp formation and deposition of plant remains that later hardened into coal.
2. carboniferous Producing or containing carbon or coal.
n.
The Carboniferous Period. See Table at geologic time.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
carboniferous
(ˌkɑːbəˈnɪfərəs)adj
yielding coal or carbon
Carboniferous
(ˌkɑːbəˈnɪfərəs)adj
(Geological Science) of, denoting, or formed in the fifth period of the Palaeozoic era, between the Devonian and Permian periods, lasting for nearly 64 million years during which coal measures were formed
n
(Geological Science) the Carboniferous the Carboniferous period or rock system
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
Car•bon•if•er•ous
(ˌkɑr bəˈnɪf ər əs)adj.
1. noting or pertaining to a period of the Paleozoic Era, including the Pennsylvanian and Mississippian periods as epochs, occurring from 345 million to 280 million years ago.
2. (l.c.) producing carbon or coal.
n. 3. the Carboniferous Period or System.
[1790–1800; < Latin carbōn-, s. of carbō charcoal + -i- + -ferous]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Car·bon·if·er·ous
(kär′bə-nĭf′ər-əs) The geologic time comprising the Mississippian (or Lower Carboniferous) and Pennsylvanian (or Upper Carboniferous) Periods of the Paleozoic Era, from about 360 to 286 million years ago. During the Carboniferous, widespread swamps formed in which plant remains accumulated and later hardened into coal. See Chart at geologic time.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | Carboniferous - from 345 million to 280 million years ago Paleozoic, Paleozoic era - from 544 million to about 230 million years ago Pennsylvanian, Pennsylvanian period, Upper Carboniferous, Upper Carboniferous period - from 310 million to 280 million years ago; warm climate; swampy land Lower Carboniferous, Lower Carboniferous period, Missippian period, Mississippian - from 345 million to 310 million years ago; increase of land areas; primitive ammonites; winged insects |
| Adj. | 1. | carboniferous - of or relating to the Carboniferous geologic era; "carboniferous rock system" |
| 2. | carboniferous - relating to or consisting of or yielding carbon |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
carboniferous
adj (Geol) → kohlehaltig
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
carboniferous
[ˌkɑːbəˈnɪf/ərəs] adj → carbonifero/aCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995