Definition

Noun: 1. A geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental and polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers: A "glacial period" is a colder interval within an ice age, characterized by the advance of glaciers. 2. An ice age: Informally, the term is often used synonymously with "ice age" to refer to any major period of widespread glaciation in Earth's history.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • Scientists study rock formations to understand the climate of the last glacial period.
  • During a glacial period, sea levels drop because water is stored in massive ice sheets.

Advanced Usage

• "the Glacial Period": When capitalized, it can refer specifically to the most recent major glaciation, the Pleistocene glacial epoch.
  • Many large mammals, like woolly mammoths, became extinct at the end of the Glacial Period.

Variants and Related Words

• Ice age (n): A long period of reduction in global temperature, marked by glacial periods (cold phases) and interglacial periods (warmer phases).
• Glaciation (n): The process, condition, or result of being covered by glaciers or ice sheets.
• Interglacial (n/adj): A warmer period between glacial periods within an ice age.

Synonyms

• Ice age
• Glacial epoch
• Glaciation

Related Phrases and Terms

• Pleistocene Epoch: The geological time period, from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, known for its repeated glacial cycles.
• Interglacial period: The warmer period between successive glacial advances.

Noun

1. any period of time during which glaciers covered a large part of the earth's surface
   • the most recent ice age was during the Pleistocene