Pleistocene
|pleis-to-cene|
/ˈplaɪstəˌsiːn/
the recent Ice Age epoch
Etymology
'Pleistocene' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'pleistos' and 'kainos', where 'pleistos' meant 'most' and 'kainos' meant 'new'.
'Pleistocene' was formed in scientific New Latin/European usage (e.g., German 'Pleistozän' / New Latin 'Pleistocenus') in the 19th century and was adopted into modern English as 'Pleistocene'.
Initially the elements meant 'most' + 'new' (i.e., 'most recent'); over time the combined term came to denote the specific geological epoch now defined as about 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a geological epoch of the Quaternary period, from about 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago; often associated with repeated glacial (Ice Age) events.
During the Pleistocene, large ice sheets covered much of North America and northern Europe.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
material (rocks, sediments, fossils) deposited or formed during the Pleistocene epoch.
The fossils were recovered from Pleistocene deposits.
Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of the Pleistocene epoch.
Pleistocene fauna included large mammals such as mammoths and saber-toothed cats.
Last updated: 2025/11/26 20:00