Epoch

/ˈɛpək/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A period in history or a person's life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics.
The Renaissance was an epoch of great cultural and artistic achievement.
A division of time in geology or an era in the history of the Earth's development.
Scientists study the Mesozoic epoch to understand the age of dinosaurs.
In computing, a particular point in time used as a reference point in the processing of information.
The system's epoch is set to midnight on January 1, 1970.

Etymology

Late Latin 'epocha', from Greek 'epochē' which means 'a stop or fixed point in time'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

epoch-making
Significant or groundbreaking events that have a lasting impact.
the epoch of time
Refers to a specific time period marked by distinctive characteristics.
in this epoch
During this specific time period.

Related Words

era
A long and distinct period of history.
period
A length of time during which a series of events occurs.
age
A distinct period of time marked by specific characteristics.

Slang Meanings

A long time ago.
That happened in the epoch of my youth.
A new phase or trend.
We're entering a new epoch with this technology.