Adjacent Words

Geology definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

GEOL'OGY, n. [Gr. the earth, and discourse.]
The doctrine or science of the structure of the earth or terraqueous globe, and of the substances which compose it; or the science of the compound minerals or aggregate substances which compose the earth, the relations which the several constituent masses bear to each other, their formation, structure, position and direction: it extends also to the various alterations and decompositions to which minerals are subject.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocks

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural -gies) Etymology: New Latin geologia, from ge- + -logia -logy Date: 1735 1. a. a science that deals with the history of the earth and its life especially as recorded in rocks b. a study of the solid matter of a celestial body (as the moon) 2. geologic features 3. a treatise on geology • geologist noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 the science of the earth, including the composition, structure, and origin of its rocks. 2 this science applied to any other planet or celestial body. 3 the geological features of a district. Derivatives: geologic adj. geological adj. geologically adv. geologist n. geologize v.tr. & intr. (also -ise). Etymology: mod.L geologia (as GEO-, -LOGY)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

10. (Mus.) (a) Produced by natural organs, as those of the human throat, in distinction from instrumental music. (b) Of or pertaining to a key which has neither a flat nor a sharp for its signature, as the key of C major. (c) Applied to an air or modulation of harmony which moves by easy and smooth transitions, digressing but little from the original key. --Moore (Encyc. of Music). Natural day, the space of twenty-four hours. --Chaucer. Natural fats, Natural gas, etc. See under Fat, Gas. etc. Natural Harmony (Mus.), the harmony of the triad or common chord. Natural history, in its broadest sense, a history or description of nature as a whole, incuding the sciences of botany, zo["o]logy, geology, mineralogy, paleontology, chemistry, and physics. In recent usage the term is often restricted to the sciences of botany and zo["o]logy collectively, and sometimes to the science of zoology alone. Natural law, that instinctive sense of justice and of right and wrong, which is native in mankind, as distinguished from specifically revealed divine law, and formulated human law. Natural modulation (Mus.), transition from one key to its relative keys. Natural order. (Nat. Hist.) See under order. Natural person. (Law) See under person, n. Natural philosophy, originally, the study of nature in general; in modern usage, that branch of physical science, commonly called physics, which treats of the phenomena and laws of matter and considers those effects only which are unaccompanied by any change of a chemical nature; -- contrasted with mental and moral philosophy. Natural scale (Mus.), a scale which is written without flats or sharps. Model would be a preferable term, as less likely to mislead, the so-called artificial scales (scales represented by the use of flats and sharps) being equally natural with the so-called natural scale Natural science, natural history, in its broadest sense; -- used especially in contradistinction to mental or moral science. Natural selection (Biol.), a supposed operation of natural laws analogous, in its operation and results, to designed selection in breeding plants and animals, and resulting in the survival of the fittest. The theory of natural selection supposes that this has been brought about mainly by gradual changes of environment which have led to corresponding changes of structure, and that those forms which have become so modified as to be best adapted to the changed environment have tended to survive and leave similarly adapted descendants, while those less perfectly adapted have tended to die out though lack of fitness for the environment, thus resulting in the survival of the fittest. See Darwinism. Natural system (Bot. & Zo["o]l.), a classification based upon real affinities, as shown in the structure of all parts of the organisms, and by their embryology. It should be borne in mind that the natural system of botany is natural only in the constitution of its genera, tribes, orders, etc., and in its grand divisions. --Gray. Natural theology, or Natural religion, that part of theological science which treats of those evidences of the existence and attributes of the Supreme Being which are exhibited in nature; -- distinguished from revealed religion. See Quotation under Natural, a., 3. Natural vowel, the vowel sound heard in urn, furl, sir, her, etc.; -- so called as being uttered in the easiest open position of the mouth organs. See Neutral vowel, under Neutral and Guide to Pronunciation, [sect] 17. Syn: See Native.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Geology Ge*ol"o*gy, n.; pl. Geologies. [Gr. ge`a, gh^, the earth + -logy: cf. F. g['e]ologie.] 1. The science which treats: (a) Of the structure and mineral constitution of the globe; structural geology. (b) Of its history as regards rocks, minerals, rivers, valleys, mountains, climates, life, etc.; historical geology. (c) Of the causes and methods by which its structure, features, changes, and conditions have been produced; dynamical geology. See Chart of The Geological Series. 2. A treatise on the science.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. Geology is the study of the Earth's structure, surface, and origins. He was visiting professor of geology at the University of Jordan. • geologist (geologists) Geologists have studied the way that heat flows from the earth. N-COUNT 2. The geology of an area is the structure of its land, together with the types of rocks and minerals that exist within it. ...an expert on the geology of southeast Asia. N-UNCOUNT: usu with poss

Moby Thesaurus

cosmical geology, crystallography, dynamic geology, geodesy, geodetics, geodynamics, geognosy, geographics, geography, geological chemistry, geological engineering, geomorphogeny, geomorphology, geophysics, geoscopy, geotectonic geology, historical geology, hydrogeology, mineralogical chemistry, mineralogy, mining engineering, mining geology, paleontological geology, pedology, petrochemistry, petrography, petrology, physical geography, physical geology, physiographic geology, physiography, soil mechanics, soil science, stratigraphic geology, stratigraphy