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facies definition

fa·cies (fā′s̸hē ēz′, -s̸hēz′; also, esp. for 2, -sēz′)

noun pl. facies fa′·cies′

  1. the general appearance, aspect, or nature of anything
  2. Ecol. a particular modification of the appearance or composition of a community
  3. Geol. the characteristics of a rock body or part of a rock body that differentiate it from others, as in appearance, composition, etc.
  4. Med.
    1. the appearance of the face as indicative of a specific disease or condition
    2. a surface

Etymology: L, face

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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