dendrochronology

[ den-droh-kruh-nol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the science dealing with the study of the annual rings of trees in determining the dates and chronological order of past events.

dendrochronology

/ ˌdɛndrəʊˌkrɒnəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; ˌdɛndrəʊkrəˈnɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of the annual rings of trees, used esp to date past events

dendrochronology

/ dĕn′drō-krə-nŏl′ə-jē /

1. The study of growth rings in trees for the purpose of analyzing past climate conditions or determining the dates of past events. Because trees grow more slowly in periods of drought or other environmental stress than they do under more favorable conditions, the size of the rings they produce varies. Analyzing the pattern of a tree's rings provides information about the environmental changes that took place during the period in which it was growing. Matching the pattern in trees whose age is known to the pattern in wood found at an archaeological site can establish the age at which the wood was cut and thus the approximate date of the site. By comparing living trees with old lumber and finding overlapping ring patterns, scientists have established chronological records for some species that go back as far as 9,000 years.

Derived Forms

• ˌdendrochroˈnologist, noun
• dendrochronological, adjective

Other Words From

• den·dro·chron·o·log·i·cal [den-droh-kron-l-, oj, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
• dendro·chrono·logi·cal·ly adverb
• dendro·chro·nolo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dendrochronology¹

First recorded in 1925–30; dendro- + chronology

Example Sentences

They will use dendrochronology, also known as tree ring dating, where the rings in the wood are counted to establish the age of a tree.

From BBC

That practice has spawned an entire subfield of scientific inquiry known as dendrochronology.

From New York Times

Luckily for dendrochronology, spikes in cosmic radiation generate spikes in atmospheric levels of carbon-14, the isotope whose slow decay is the clock that anchors radiocarbon dating.

From Seattle Times

Fortunately, the field of dendrochronology can come to the rescue.

From Scientific American

The tree-ring aging confirmed the historical record, said Mr. Dyer, who said he hopes dendrochronology will continue to offer insights into the identities of other shipwrecks.

From New York Times