Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The earliest known period of human prehistory: The Stone Age is a prehistoric period characterized by the primary use of stone tools and weapons, before the widespread adoption of metallurgy. It is divided into the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Archaeologists study artifacts from the Stone Age to understand early human development.
  • Cave paintings from the Stone Age provide insight into the lives of our ancestors.
  • The transition from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age marked a significant technological advancement.

Advanced Usage

• "Stone-Age" (as an attributive adjective): Used to describe something as extremely primitive or outdated.
  • His management style is positively Stone-Age. (This implies his methods are antiquated.)
  • They were using Stone-Age technology to solve a modern problem.

Variants and Related Words

• Paleolithic (adj/n): Relating to or denoting the early phase of the Stone Age.
• Neolithic (adj/n): Relating to or denoting the later part of the Stone Age.
• Lithic (adj): Relating to stone, especially as a material for tools or weapons.

Synonyms

• Prehistoric period: A general term for the time before written records.
• Lithic age: A less common synonym emphasizing the use of stone.

Related Phrases

• "Throw someone back into the Stone Age": An idiom meaning to cause a severe regression to a primitive state, often technologically or socially.
  • The cyberattack threw the company's operations back into the Stone Age.

Noun

1. (archeology) the earliest known period of human culture, characterized by the use of stone implements