Car·bon·if·er·ous (kär b -n f r-s)adj. 1. Of, belonging to, or denoting a geologic division of the Paleozoic Era following the Devonian and preceding the Permian, including the Mississippian Period and the Pennsylvanian Period and characterized, especially in the Pennsylvanian, by swamp formation and deposition of plant remains later hardened into coal. 2. carboniferous Producing or containing carbon or coal. n. The Carboniferous Period. See Table at geologic time. |
carboniferous [ˌkɑːbəˈnɪfərəs]
adj
yielding coal or carbon
Carboniferous [ˌkɑːbəˈnɪfərəs]
adj
(Earth Sciences / 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
(Earth Sciences / Geological Science) the. the Carboniferous period or rock system
| Carboniferous (kärb-nfr-s) The period of geologic time from about 360 to 286 million years ago. The term is used throughout the world, although this period of time has been separated into the Mississippian (lower Carboniferous) and Pennsylvanian (upper Carboniferous) in the United States. During this time, widespread swamps formed in which plant remains accumulated and later hardened into coal. See Chart at geologic time. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| 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 |
Translations
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