Pleistocene

See also: pleistocene, Pléistocène, and pléistocène

English

Alternative forms

(abbreviation) Ps

Etymology

Meaning "most new; newest", pertaining to the glacial period, coined in 1839 by Charles Lyell from the Greek πλεῖστος (pleîstos, “most”) (superlative of πολύς (polús, “much”); see poly-) and καινός (kainós, “new”) (latinised as cænus).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈplaɪstəˌsiːn, -toʊ-/

Adjective

Pleistocene (not comparable)

(geology) Of a geologic epoch within the Neogene period from about 2,588,000 to 11,700 years ago (earlier definition 1.7 million to 11,000 years ago); marked by the evolution of man, and the extinction of the large mammals.

Translations

of the Pleistocene epoch

Finnish: pleistoseenikautinen
Georgian: პლეისტოცენური (ṗleisṭocenuri)

Greek: πλειστόκαινος (el) (pleistókainos)

Proper noun

Pleistocene

(geology) The Pleistocene epoch.
- 2017, Anthony J. McMichael, Alistair Woodward, Cameron Muir, Climate Change and the Health of Nations, →ISBN, page 89:
  Throughout the Pleistocene, climatic changes exerted another type of selective pressure on human biological evolution, contributing to the rapid emergence of various Homo species over time.

Translations

(geology) the Pleistocene epoch

Catalan: plistocè m
Czech: pleistocén m
Estonian: pleistotseen
Finnish: pleistoseenikausi

Georgian: პლეისტოცენი (ṗleisṭoceni), პლეისტოცენის ეპოქა (ṗleisṭocenis eṗoka)
Greek: Πλειστόκαινο n (Pleistókaino)
Navajo: nahasdzáán tingo siʼánę́ędą́ą́ʼ