epoch Definition
ep·och (ep′ək; also ep′äk′; Cdn & Brit usually ē′päk′)
noun
- the beginning of a new and important period in the history of anything the first earth satellite marked a new epoch in the study of the universe
- a period of time considered in terms of noteworthy and characteristic events, developments, persons, etc. an epoch of social revolution
- a point in time or a precise date
- Astron. the time at which observations are made, as of the positions of planets or stars
- Geol. a subdivision of a period in geologic time corresponding to the rock strata of a series ()
Etymology: ML epocha < Gr epochē, a check, cessation < epechein, to hold in, check < epi-, upon + echein, to hold: see scheme
epoch Related Forms
ep′·ochal adjective
ep′·och·ally adverb
epoch Synonyms
epoch Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- imperialism: In the epoch of imperialism such a position is a hundred times more imperative than in the days of Marx.
- revolution: The economic changes produce the potential for what Marx called an epoch of revolution.
- capitalism: We are not in a new epoch of financial capitalism as some have suggested.
- era: Our next inquiry must be directed to ascertaining the epoch of that era.
- decline: The war " for democracy " ushered in an epoch of the final decline of democracy.
- observation: UT The UT epoch of observation expressed as six numbers: years AD, month, day, hours, minutes.
Converse of object
- distinguish: Notice with what sensibility the languages of civilized nations have distinguished two epochs in the developments of Russia.
- mark: His paper, published in 1847, marked an epoch in the history of natural science.
- begin: Then begins an epoch of social revolution. [ 47 ] At this point one important confusion must be cleared up.
- enter: In recent years our press has often said that we have entered the epoch of Fascism.
- call: The result is usually called the epoch of that event.
- give: For the Astronomical Almanac specify the target RA in hours, minutes and seconds at the epoch given.
Adjective modifier
- Pleistocene: This would appear to date man in Washington to a time before the Pleistocene epoch, which scientists are reluctant to do.
- Holocene: Variations in atmospheric methane concentration during the Holocene epoch.
- imperialist: Session 5 Russian Revolutions 1905 & 1917 The Russian Revolution of 1905 was the first revolution of the imperialist epoch.
- glacial: The site of the station is comprised of a thick bed of alluvium of considerable depth which settled after the last glacial epoch.
- revolutionary: Two ways of looking at things are possible: either we assess the present epoch as a really revolutionary epoch or we do not.
- geological: It turns itself off at will and takes a geological epoch to re-boot.
Modifies a noun
value: Note that time windows and epoch values should be compatible with how XRONOS reconstructs the time.
Preposition: in
history: A new epoch in history will begin with you.

