epoch
EH-puk
/ˈiːpɒk/
A particular period of time in history or a person's life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics.
In geology, it is a specific unit of time shorter than a period and longer than an age.
The story behind the word. From the Greek 'epokhe', meaning a 'pause' or 'fixed point in time'. Originally, it referred to the specific date used to start a calendar (like the birth of Christ), but later evolved to mean the entire period following that point.
Word relationships
- era: Often used interchangeably, but 'era' usually covers a longer span of time.
- age: A more general and less formal term.
- instant: A single point in time rather than a duration.
Commonly confused with
- era: An era is usually a long period defined by a specific feature; an epoch is often the starting point of that era.
Word family
- epochal (adjective): Forming or characterizing an epoch; extremely significant.
Collocations
- new epoch
- geological epoch
- epoch-making
Idioms & expressions
- epoch-making
Example sentences
- "The fall of the Berlin Wall marked the beginning of a new epoch in European relations." Discussing a major historical shift.
- "We are currently living in the Holocene epoch, which began after the last major ice age." Scientific usage regarding the Earth.
Memory hook
An EPOCH is an EPIC period of time. A 'pause' that defines an age.
When not to use
Don't use it for very short durations like a day or a week.
Fun facts
- In astronomy, an epoch is a specific moment in time for which celestial coordinates are calculated.
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