epoch
/ˈiːpɒk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈepək/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈe-pək ˈe-ˌpäk US also and British usually ˈē-ˌpäk/ (ame, mw)
epoch — noun
- epochsingular
- epochsplural
1. A long stretch of history or of development in a particular field, marked by imp
A long stretch of history or of development in a particular field, marked by important new events or discoveries that clearly set it apart from earlier times.
The invention of the internet marked a new epoch in how people communicate and access information.
mark + new epoch in [field]
Many historians describe the Renaissance as an epoch of extraordinary artistic and scientific progress.
describe [X] as an epoch of [Y]
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 began an epoch of political change across Eastern Europe.
For the Watanabe family farm, the new railway line started an epoch of faster trade and bigger harvests.
Dr. Okafor believed that the discovery of penicillin opened a new epoch in the treatment of disease.
- era
Similar length and importance but slightly broader; an era does not always begin with a single defining event.
- age
Often longer and less precise than an epoch; 'the digital age' but 'the epoch of the internet'.
- period
A neutral, general term for any length of time; lacks the historical weight of 'epoch'.
文法句型
an epoch of [something]
in/during an epoch
mark/begin/open an epoch
用法筆記
In writing, 'epoch' carries more weight than 'period' or 'era'. Reserve it for times of fundamental, lasting change — not ordinary stretches of time or personal life stages.
常見錯誤
2. In geology, a unit of time that forms a subdivision of a period and represents a
In geology, a unit of time that forms a subdivision of a period and represents a distinct span in the history of the earth.
The Jurassic epoch is famous for its giant dinosaurs and warm climate across the planet.
collocation: the [name] epoch
Geologists study rock layers from the Pleistocene epoch to understand past ice ages.
rock layers from the [name] epoch
This fossil was found in rocks from the Eocene epoch, when the earth was much warmer.
During the Miocene epoch, large grasslands covered much of North America and Asia.
The oldest layers of the canyon date back to the Cambrian epoch and show early sea life.
文法句型
the [name] epoch
during the [name] epoch
from the [name] epoch
用法筆記
In the geologic time scale, the hierarchy is: eon → era → period → epoch → age. 'Epoch' is the fourth of five levels. Named epochs are always capitalised (e.g. 'Pleistocene', 'Miocene').
3. In astronomy, a specific moment or date chosen as a fixed reference point for de
In astronomy, a specific moment or date chosen as a fixed reference point for describing the positions and motions of objects in space.
Astronomers use the J2000.0 epoch as a standard starting point for star charts.
collocation: the J2000.0 epoch / reference epoch
The position of the comet was recorded using the reference epoch of January first, 2000.
To map the sky accurately, scientists choose a fixed epoch from which to measure all movements.
Dr. Hernandez calculated the asteroid's orbit using an epoch set at midnight on New Year's Day.
The coordinates of the newly discovered object were given relative to the standard reference epoch.
- reference date
Describes the same concept in plainer language, though less precise.
- zero point
Emphasises the idea of a starting measurement from which everything else is calculated, but less common in formal astronomy texts.
文法句型
relative to an epoch
using [number] as the epoch
the [name] epoch
用法筆記
This is a technical term used in astronomy and satellite navigation. In everyday conversation you will very rarely encounter it outside of a specialist context.