devonian

/də'vounjən/

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The word "Devonian" is primarily used in scientific contexts, especially in geology and paleontology. Here’s an easy-to-understand breakdown:

Definition:

"Devonian" is an adjective and noun that refers to a specific period in Earth's history that lasted from about 405 million to 345 million years ago. During this time, there were many fishes, and it was also when the first amphibians (animals that can live both in water and on land) and ammonites (a type of extinct marine mollusk) appeared.

Usage Instructions:

• As a noun, you can say, "The Devonian is known as the ‘Age of Fishes’."
• As an adjective, you can use it to describe something related to that time period, such as "Devonian rocks contain fossils of ancient fish."

Example:

• Noun: "Scientists study the Devonian to learn about the evolution of early life."
• Adjective: "The Devonian period was crucial for the development of land-dwelling animals."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, you might encounter phrases like "Devonian stratigraphy," which refers to the study of rock layers from that period, or "Devonian ecosystems," which describes the types of environments that existed during that time.

Word Variants:

• Devonian Period: Refers specifically to the time frame.
• Devonian Fauna: Refers to the animals that lived during the Devonian period.

Different Meaning:

In general use, "Devonian" does not have other meanings. However, it is specifically tied to the geological time scale.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "Devonian," but it can be categorized under geological eras like "Paleozoic," which is the era that includes the Devonian period.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs that include "Devonian" since it is a technical term.

Summary:

In summary, "Devonian" is a term used to describe a significant period in the history of Earth, marked by the dominance of fish and the emergence of amphibians.

Academic

Noun

1. from 405 million to 345 million years ago; preponderance of fishes and appearance of amphibians and ammonites

Synonyms

• Devonian
• Devonian period
• Age of Fishes