Archaean
/ɑːˈkiːən/( <美> Archean)
adjective
1- Geology of, relating to, or denoting the aeon that constitutes the earlier (or middle) part of the Precambrian, in which there was no life on the earth. It precedes the Proterozoic aeon and (in some schemes) is preceded by the Priscoan aeon.【地质】(与)太古宙(有关)的。亦称AZOIC.
1.1
- as noun the Archaean the Archaean aeon or the system of rocks deposited during it太古宙, 太古宇。
The Archaean extended from the origin of the earth (see PRECAMBRIAN) to about 2, 500 million years ago. In schemes which include the Priscoan aeon, the Archaean began about 4, 000 million years ago.
词源
late 19th cent.: from Greek arkhaios 'ancient' + -AN.