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eon
[ ee-uhn, ee-on ]
noun
- an indefinitely long period of time; age.
- the largest division of geologic time, comprising two or more eras.
- Astronomy. one billion years.
eon
/ ˈiːən; ˈiːɒn /
noun
- the usual US spelling of aeon
- geology the longest division of geological time, comprising two or more eras
eon
/ ē′ŏn′ /
- The longest division of geologic time , containing two or more eras.
Example Sentences
But it would be three long years — a veritable eon during that pre-MTV era — before Harrison released the LP’s worthy successor.
The lands whose governance was at stake are vaster than any nation, and it’s possible the consequences of the vote will be felt for eons.
One theory holds that, eons ago, several apocalyptic eruptions set off a runaway greenhouse effect on Venus, turning it from a temperate, waterlogged world into an arid desert of burned glass.
It happened to be where it was; it had probably been there for eons.
Dennehotso, where Begaye lives, lies an hour away from the red-rock formations of Monument Valley, which were shaped by eons of water and wind erosion but resemble artworks chiseled by a sculptor.
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More About Eon
What does eon mean?
Eon is commonly used in a general way to refer to an indefinitely long period of time. Outside of science, people usually use eon as a way to exaggerate how long something took to happen or how long something lasted.
In the context of geology, eon refers to the largest division of geological time. Technically speaking, an eon is made up of two or more eras, which consist of several periods, which are divided into epochs.
All of these units of time vary as to their exact length, but most consist of at least millions of years, with eons lasting billions or hundreds of millions of years.
In the context of astronomy, an eon is one billion years.
Example: It took me eons to get a straight answer as to how long an eon actually is.
Where does eon come from?
The first records of the word eon referring to a very long span of time come from around 1650. It comes from the Greek word aiṓn, referring to an infinitely long period of time.
Geologists generally divide the entirety of Earth’s existence into three eons. The first and oldest is the Archean eon, lasting from about 3.8 to 2.5 billion years ago. It is thought that most of the planet’s continental masses formed during this time. The next is the Proterozoic eon, lasting from about 2.5 billion to 540 million years ago, when bacteria and marine algae are thought to have appeared. The last (and present) eon is the Phanerozoic eon, stretching from about 540 million years ago to the present. The Archaen and Proterozoic eons are often combined into the Precambrian eon.
Did you know ... ?
How is eon used in real life?
In everyday conversation, eon is usually used to exaggerate how long something took. When used in a scientific way, it’s most often used in geology and astronomy.
How old is Earth? How do scientists know how old Earth is? What is geologic time and how is time divided? Take a walk through the latest Eon of geologic time, and learn how Earth and Life have changed in these 541 million years. https://t.co/M5i7uYgXCc #virtualtour #tbt pic.twitter.com/WuhzPwbeA6
— USGS (@USGS) July 9, 2020
Look, geology made you Valentine. It took eons, hope you enjoy http://t.co/fsPxPQPSdQ pic.twitter.com/oBkvSxm9O7
— Atlas Obscura (@atlasobscura) February 14, 2014
Today I kind of announced to myself, surprised, "oh it's my birthday on Sunday". This is old age. Also took eons to recall what age I'll be
— Emer McLysaght (@EmerTheScreamer) October 17, 2017
Try using eon!
True or False?
When the word is used in a scientific context, an eon always consists of the exact same amount of time.
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