Cambrian

[ kam-bree-uhn ]

adjective

1. Geology. noting or pertaining to a period of the Paleozoic Era, occurring from 570 million to 500 million years ago, when algae and marine invertebrates were the predominant form of life.
2. of or relating to Cambria; Welsh.

noun

1. Geology. the Cambrian Period or System.
2. a native of Cambria; Welshman.

Cambrian

/ ˈkæmbrɪən /

adjective

1. of, denoting, or formed in the first 65 million years of the Palaeozoic era, during which marine invertebrates, esp trilobites, flourished
2. of or relating to Wales

noun

1. the Cambrian
   the Cambrian period or rock system
2. a Welsh person

Cambrian

/ kăm′brē-ən,kām′- /

1. The first period of the Paleozoic Era, from about 540 to 505 million years ago. During this time warm seas and desert land areas were widespread, and animal life diversified rapidly during what is known as the Cambrian Explosion .
2. See Chart at geologic time

Other Words From

• post-Cambri·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cambrian¹

1580–90; < Medieval Latin Cambri ( a ) Wales, Latinization of MWelsh Cymry Wales, literally Welshmen ( Cymry ) + -an

Example Sentences

The new nematode fossils predate those Cambrian creatures by about 15 million years, says Hughes, a graduate student at Harvard University.

From Science Magazine

The crash happened on the Cambrian Line on a single track, close to a passing loop where opposite travelling trains can pass each other.

From BBC

The crash took place on the Cambrian line on a single track, close to a passing loop where opposite travelling trains can pass each other.

From BBC

While the valuation announced Wednesday looked high by normal standards, "these are not normal times," said Karl Freund, principal analyst at Cambrian AI Research.

From BBC

"The Cambrian period also had a massive speciation event, but the new models allow us to rule out oxygen and focus on other things that may have driven evolution during that time."

From Science Daily