How Do You Spell CAMBRIAN?

Pronunciation: [kˈambɹi͡ən] (IPA)

Cambrian is a geologic period that occurred around 540 million years ago. The word is spelled as [kæm.brɪ.ən], with stress on the first syllable. The IPA phonetic transcription shows that the consonant cluster "mb" is pronounced as a single sound, a nasal bilabial stop [m], followed by the vowel sound 'i' pronounced as [ɪ]. The final syllable is pronounced as 'ən', with a neutral schwa vowel sound. The spelling of the word 'Cambrian' reflects its Latin origin, which refers to the Roman name for Wales.

CAMBRIAN Meaning and Definition

  1. Cambrian refers to a geologic period that occurred approximately 540 to 485 million years ago during the Paleozoic Era. It is widely recognized as the first period within the Phanerozoic Eon, marking an important milestone in the history of life on Earth. The Cambrian period is renowned for its remarkable biological innovation and the advent of a wide variety of complex multicellular organisms.

    During this period, an explosion of biodiversity took place, often referred to as the "Cambrian explosion." Many major animal groups appeared during this time, including arthropods, mollusks, chordates, and echinoderms. The Burgess Shale formation in British Columbia, Canada, is particularly famous for its preservation of extraordinary fossil specimens from this period, offering valuable insights into the early evolution of life.

    Geologically, the Cambrian period is characterized by the deposition of marine sedimentary rocks, including shales, sandstones, and limestones. These rocks often contain fossils of the diverse and unique organisms that inhabited the oceans during this time.

    The name "Cambrian" is derived from the Latin term "Cambria," which is a historical name for Wales. The period was first formally defined by Adam Sedgwick, a British geologist, who named it after the ancient Cambrian rocks exposed in Wales. The term "Cambrian" is now globally recognized and used in the scientific community to denote this specific period in Earth's geological history.

  2. • In geol., a term used to designate the lowest fossiliferous rocks as developed in Wales, and their equivalents in other countries; pert. to Wales.
    • A native or inhabitant of Wales.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for CAMBRIAN

Etymology of CAMBRIAN

The word "Cambrian" is derived from Cambria, which is the Latin word for Wales. It was first used by British geologist Adam Sedgwick in 1835 to name the geological period defined by the rocks in Wales that contained abundant and diverse fossil remains. The Cambrian period is known for its significance in the fossil record, as it marks the appearance of many complex animal species.

Idioms with the word CAMBRIAN

  • the Cambrian The idiom "the Cambrian" refers to a specific period in Earth's history known as the Cambrian period. It denotes a time characterized by great change, rapid development, or a surge of new ideas or innovations. It is often used metaphorically to describe a period of significant transformation or the emergence of something new.

Similar spelling words for CAMBRIAN

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