What does Pleistocene mean?

Definitions for Pleistocene
ˈplaɪ stəˌsinpleis·tocene

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Pleistocene.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. Pleistocene, Pleistocene epoch, Glacial epochnoun

    from two million to 11 thousand years ago; extensive glaciation of the northern hemisphere; the time of human evolution

Wiktionary

  1. Pleistoceneadjective

    Of a geologic epoch within the Neogene period from about 1.7 million to 11,000 years ago; marked by the evolution of man, and the extinction of the large mammals.

  2. Pleistocenenoun

    The Pleistocene epoch.

Wikipedia

  1. Pleistocene

    The Pleistocene ( PLYSE-tə-seen, -⁠toh-, often referred to colloquially as the Ice Age) is the geological epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was finally confirmed in 2009 by the International Union of Geological Sciences, the cutoff of the Pleistocene and the preceding Pliocene was regarded as being 1.806 million years Before Present (BP). Publications from earlier years may use either definition of the period. The end of the Pleistocene corresponds with the end of the last glacial period and also with the end of the Paleolithic age used in archaeology. The name is a combination of Ancient Greek πλεῖστος, pleīstos, 'most' and καινός, kainós (latinized as cænus), 'new'. At the end of the preceding Pliocene, the previously isolated North and South American continents were joined by the Isthmus of Panama, causing a faunal interchange between the two regions and changing ocean circulation patterns, with the onset of glaciation in the Northern Hemisphere occurring around 2.7 million years ago. During the Early Pleistocene (2.58–0.8 Ma), archaic humans of the genus Homo originated in Africa and spread throughout Afro-Eurasia. The end of the Early Pleistocene is marked by the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, with the cyclicity of glacial cycles changing from 41,000-year cycles to asymmetric 100,000-year cycles, making the climate variation more extreme. The Late Pleistocene witnessed the spread of modern humans outside of Africa as well as the extinction of all other human species. Humans also spread to the Australian continent and the Americas for the first time, co-incident with the extinction of most large bodied animals in these regions. The aridification and cooling trends of the preceding Neogene were continued in the Pleistocene. The climate was strongly variable depending on the glacial cycle, with the sea levels being up to 120 metres lower than present at peak glaciation, allowing the connection of Asia and North America via Beringia and the covering of most of northern North America by the Laurentide Ice Sheet.

ChatGPT

  1. pleistocene

    The Pleistocene is a geological epoch or time period that began about 2.6 million years ago and ended about 11,700 years ago. It is characterized by several ice ages, the evolution of Homo sapiens, and the widespread use of tools by human beings. The Pleistocene is the second epoch of the Quaternary period and followed the Pliocene epoch and precedes the Holocene epoch. During this time, many extinctions of large mammals occurred, especially in North America and Australia.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Pleistoceneadjective

    of or pertaining to the epoch, or the deposits, following the Tertiary, and immediately preceding man

  2. Pleistocenenoun

    the Pleistocene epoch, or deposits

  3. Etymology: [Gr. most + new.]

Wikidata

  1. Pleistocene

    The Pleistocene is the geological epoch which lasted from about 2,588,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. Charles Lyell introduced this term in 1839 to describe strata in Sicily that had at least 70% of their molluscan fauna still living today. This distinguished it from the older Pliocene Epoch, which Lyell had originally thought to be the youngest fossil rock layer. He constructed the name "Pleistocene" from the Greek πλεῖστος, pleīstos, "most", and καινός, kainós, "new"; this contrasting with the immediately preceding Pleiocene, and the immediately subsequent Holocene epoch, which extends to the present time. The Pleistocene is the first epoch of the Quaternary Period or sixth epoch of the Cenozoic Era. The end of the Pleistocene corresponds with the end of the last glacial period. It also corresponds with the end of the Paleolithic age used in archaeology. In the ICS timescale, the Pleistocene is divided into four stages or ages, the Gelasian, Calabrian, Ionian and Tarantian. All of these stages were defined in southern Europe. In addition to this international subdivision, various regional subdivisions are often used.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Pleistocene

    plīs′tō-sēn, n. (geol.) the name given to the system comprising the older accumulations belonging to the Quaternary or Post-Tertiary division. [Gr. pleistos, most, kainos, recent.]

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of Pleistocene in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of Pleistocene in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of Pleistocene in a Sentence

  1. Fredrick Kyalo Manthi:

    The discovery of Nanopithecus browni reaffirms Kenyas contribution to understanding the evolution and diversity of Pliocene fauna and the environmental contexts in which they lived, environmental changes during the Plio-Pleistocene may have influenced the present-day distribution of guenons.

  2. Julie Meachen:

    To date, these are the most complete Pleistocene carnivore remains ever found, it is a pretty big deal, especially for scientists like me who study carnivores and big cats.

  3. Christopher Stringer:

    These methods were applied to 95 representative fossils and over 600 metrical and morphological traits, and the analyses revealed 3 main clades of later Pleistocene humans: H. sapiens, H. neanderthalensis and a group containing Harbin and other Chinese fossils such as Dali, Jinniushan and Xiahe.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

Pleistocene#10000#40721#100000

Translations for Pleistocene

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • ப்ளீஸ்டோசீன்Tamil
  • ప్లీస్టోసిన్Telugu

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"Pleistocene." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Nov. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Pleistocene>.

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    a protective covering (as for a knife or sword)
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