era

¹ American  

[eer-uh, er-uh] / ˈɪər ə, ˈɛr ə /

noun

1. 1. a period of time marked by distinctive character, events, etc..

      The use of steam for power marked the beginning of an era.

   2. Slang. a period of time in a person’s life characterized by something distinctive and noticeable, such as a particular emotional state, relationship, achievement, or interest.

      She’s started wearing all black now that she’s in her sad girl era.

      They are definitely in their flop era and could use a complete makeover.

2. the period of time to which anything belongs or is to be assigned.

   She was born in the era of hansoms and gaslight.

3. a system of chronologic notation reckoned from a given date.

   The era of the Romans was based upon the time the city of Rome was founded.

4. a point of time from which succeeding years are numbered, as at the beginning of a system of chronology.

   Caesar died many years before our era.

5. a date or an event forming the beginning of any distinctive period.

   The year 1492 marks an era in world history.

6. Geology. a major division of geologic time composed of a number of periods.

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ERA ² American  

abbreviation

1. Baseball. earned run average.

2. Emergency Relief Administration.

3. Equal Rights Amendment: proposed 27th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender.

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era ¹ British  

/ ˈɪərə /

noun

1. a period of time considered as being of a distinctive character; epoch

2. an extended period of time the years of which are numbered from a fixed point or event

   the Christian era

3. a point in time, esp one beginning a new or distinctive period

   the discovery of antibiotics marked an era in modern medicine

4. geology a major division of geological time, divided into several periods

   the Mesozoic era

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ERA ² British  

/ ˈiːrə /

acronym

1. (in Britain) Education Reform Act: the 1988 act which established the key elements of the National Curriculum

2. (in the US) Equal Rights Amendment: a proposed amendment to the US Constitution enshrining equality between the sexes

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era Scientific  

/ îr′ə /

1. A division of geologic time, longer than a period and shorter than an eon.

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Related Words

See age.

Etymology

Origin of era

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin aera “fixed date, era, epoch (from which time is reckoned),” probably special use of Latin aera “counters,” plural of aes “piece of metal, money, brass”; akin to Gothic aiz, Old English ār ore, Sanskrit ayas “metal”

Example Sentences

Bolling Hall in East Bowling is one of the oldest surviving halls in Bradford and dates back to the medieval era.

From BBC

The astronaut corps has become far more diverse since Dwight's era.

From Barron's

Those are key differences from the Apollo era, which included the first and only humans to travel to the Moon.

From Barron's

But Schuerfranz remembers the Apollo era, and thinks some of the magic might be lost in today's more fragmented media environment: "I think it was way more exciting then," she said.

From Barron's

What grounds you and your art in an era that is often trying to strip you away from your creative liberties?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• age
• cycle
• day
• generation
• stage
• term
• time