Precambrian

or Pre-Cam·bri·an

[ pree-kam-bree-uhn, -keym- ]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to the earliest era of earth history, ending 570 million years ago, during which the earth's crust formed and life first appeared in the seas.

noun

1. the Precambrian Era.

Precambrian

/ priːˈkæmbrɪən /

adjective

1. of, denoting, or formed in the earliest geological era, which lasted for about 4 000 000 000 years before the Cambrian period

noun

1. the Precambrian
   the Precambrian era See Archaeozoic Proterozoic

Precambrian

/ prē-kăm′brē-ən,-kām′- /

1. The period of geologic time between Hadean Time and the Phanerozoic Eon, from about 3.8 billion to 540 million years ago. During the Precambrian Eon, which is divided into the Archean and Proterozoic, primitive forms of life first appeared on Earth.
2. See Chart at geologic time

Word History and Origins

Origin of Precambrian¹

First recorded in 1860–65; pre- + Cambrian

Example Sentences

They argued the cuts would cripple studies of museum collections holding some 5 million items, including a renowned trove of Precambrian fossils.

From Science Magazine

The results were published in the journal Precambrian Research.

From Science Daily

In addition, because Precambrian biomarker records are extremely sensitive to contamination, the researchers used an ultra-clean method to extract organic matter from sediment cores.

From Science Daily

We travelled for ten days before we were ensconced in Precambrian rock and vicious pine.

From Literature

Before the Cambrian, there is “no evidence for group behavior” in animals, Dr. Vannier said, because Precambrian life-forms lacked sophisticated nervous systems.

From New York Times