epoch
/ˈiːpɒk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈepək/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈe-pək ˈe-ˌpäk US also and British usually ˈē-ˌpäk/ (ame, mw)
epoch — 名詞
- epochsingular
- epochsplural
1. A long stretch of history or of development in a particular field, marked by imp
時代
重大的歷史變革時期
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.
網際網路的發明，開啟了人類溝通與獲取資訊的嶄新時代。
mark + new epoch in [field]
Many historians describe the Renaissance as an epoch of extraordinary artistic and scientific progress.
許多歷史學家將文藝復興描述為一個藝術與科學飛躍進步的時代。
describe [X] as an epoch of [Y]
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 began an epoch of political change across Eastern Europe.
1989 年柏林圍牆的倒塌，開啟了東歐政治變革的時代。
For the Watanabe family farm, the new railway line started an epoch of faster trade and bigger harvests.
對渡邊家的農場來說，新建的鐵路線開啟了運輸更快、收成更豐的時代。
Dr. Okafor believed that the discovery of penicillin opened a new epoch in the treatment of disease.
Okafor 醫生相信，青黴素的發現開啟了疾病治療的嶄新時代。
- 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
地質年代
地質學的時間劃分單位
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.
侏羅紀地質年代以巨大的恐龍和遍布全球的溫暖氣候聞名。
collocation: the [name] epoch
Geologists study rock layers from the Pleistocene epoch to understand past ice ages.
地質學家研究更新世地質年代的岩層，以了解過去的冰河時期。
rock layers from the [name] epoch
This fossil was found in rocks from the Eocene epoch, when the earth was much warmer.
這塊化石是在始新世地質年代的岩石中發現的，當時地球的氣候遠比現在溫暖。
During the Miocene epoch, large grasslands covered much of North America and Asia.
在中新世地質年代期間，大片草原覆蓋了北美洲和亞洲的大部分地區。
The oldest layers of the canyon date back to the Cambrian epoch and show early sea life.
峽谷中最古老的岩層可追溯到寒武紀地質年代，其中保存了早期的海洋生物。
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
曆元
天文學的參考時間點
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.
天文學家使用 J2000.0 曆元作為星圖的標準參考點。
collocation: the J2000.0 epoch / reference epoch
The position of the comet was recorded using the reference epoch of January first, 2000.
這顆彗星的位置是以 2000 年 1 月 1 日的參考曆元記錄的。
To map the sky accurately, scientists choose a fixed epoch from which to measure all movements.
為了準確繪製星圖，科學家會選定一個固定曆元，用來測量所有天體的運行。
Dr. Hernandez calculated the asteroid's orbit using an epoch set at midnight on New Year's Day.
Hernandez 博士以元旦午夜為曆元，計算了這顆小行星的軌道。
The coordinates of the newly discovered object were given relative to the standard reference epoch.
這顆新發現天體的座標，是相對於標準參考曆元給出的。
- 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.