facies

[ fey-shee-eez, -sheez ]

noun

, plural fa·ci·es.

1. general appearance, as of an animal or vegetable group.
2. Geology. the appearance and characteristics of a sedimentary deposit, especially as they reflect the conditions and environment of deposition and serve to distinguish the deposit from contiguous deposits. Compare metamorphic facies.
3. Medicine/Medical. a facial expression characteristic of a disease or pathological condition.
4. Archaeology. a distinctive phase of a prehistoric cultural tradition.

facies

/ ˈfeɪʃɪˌiːz /

noun

1. the general form and appearance of an individual or a group of plants or animals
2. the characteristics of a rock or series of rocks reflecting their appearance, composition, and conditions of formation
3. med the general facial expression of a patient, esp when typical of a specific disease or disorder See Hippocratic facies

facies

/ fā′shē-ēz′,-shēz /

, Plural facies

1. 1. A body of sedimentary rock distinguished from others by its lithology, geometry, sedimentary structures, proximity to other types of sedimentary rock, and fossil content, and recognized as characteristic of a particular depositional environment.
   2. For a metamorphic rock, the particular combination of pressure and temperature under which metamorphism occurred.
2. The general aspect or makeup of an ecological community, especially a local modification of a community characterized by a conspicuous or abundant species that is absent or less concentrated in other locations.
3. The appearance or expression of the face, especially when typical of a certain disorder or disease.

Other Words From

• sub·faci·es noun plural subfacies

Word History and Origins

Origin of facies¹

1350–1400, for an earlier sense; Middle English < Latin: form, figure, appearance, face, akin to facere to make

Word History and Origins

Origin of facies¹

C17: from Latin: appearance, face