Archaean

See also: archaean and Archæan

English

Alternative forms

• Archean
• Archæan (archaic)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀρχαῖα (arkhaîa, “ancient”), neuter plural of ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos, “ancient”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɑːˈkiːən/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɑɹˈkiːən/
• Rhymes: -iən

Adjective

Archaean (not comparable)

1. (geology) Of, or relating to the geologic eon from about 3,800 to 2,500 million years ago; comprises the Eoarchean, Paleoarchean, Mesoarchean and Neoarchean eras; marked by an atmosphere with little oxygen, the formation of the first continents and oceans and the emergence of simple life.
   • 2006 March 25, NewScientist, page 12/1:

     The oldest vestiges of continental crust, which date from the Archaean aeon about 4 billion years ago, are in Acasta in north-west Canada.

Translations

of eon from 3,800 to 2,500 million years ago

• Catalan: arqueà
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 太古代的 (Tàigǔdài de)

• Danish: arkeisk
• Finnish: arkeeinen (fi)
• Greek: αρχαιοζωικός (archaiozoïkós)
• Irish: Aircéach
• Italian: archeano (it)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: arkeisk

  Nynorsk: arkeisk

• Portuguese: arqueano
• Russian: архе́йский (ru) (arxéjskij)
• Spanish: arcaico (es)
• Swedish: arkeisk (sv)

Proper noun

Archaean

1. (geology) The eon from 2,500 Ma to 4,000 Ma.

Hypernyms

• (eon 2,500–4,000 Ma): Precambrian

Hyponyms

• (eon 2,500–4,000 Ma): Eoarchaean, Paleoarchaean, Mesoarchaean, Neoarchaean

Coordinate terms

• (eon 2,500–4,000 Ma): Hadean, Proterozoic - eons in Precambrian

Translations

Archaean eon

• Catalan: arqueà m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 太古代 (zh) (Tàigǔdài)

• Czech: prahory f pl, archaikum n
• Estonian: arhaikum, ürgaegkond, ürgeoon
• Finnish: arkeeinen aioni
• Greek: Αρχαιοζωικός m (Archaiozoïkós)
• Hungarian: archaikum (hu)
• Polish: archaik (pl)
• Portuguese: Arqueano m
• Russian: архе́й (ru) m (arxéj)
• Spanish: Arcaico m
• Swedish: arkeikum (sv) c

See also

• Appendix:Geologic timescale

Further reading

• Archaean on Wikipedia.Wikipedia