Pennsylvanian period
- noun
- /ˌpɛnslˈveɪniən ˈpɪərɪəd/
- Specialized
:
período pensilvánico
- The warm, swampy environments of the Pennsylvanian period supported giant insects and dense forests.
Examples
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During the Pennsylvanian period, the climate was very warm.
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Many coal beds in North America were formed during the Pennsylvanian period.
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Geologists study the Pennsylvanian period to understand the formation of ancient coal deposits.
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The Pennsylvanian period was crucial for coal formation.
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During the Pennsylvanian period, lush forests thrived in a warm climate, creating ideal conditions for coal formation.
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The fossils found in the rocks date back to the Pennsylvanian period, highlighting the diverse ecosystems of that era.
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Scientists study the coal deposits from the Pennsylvanian period to understand the ancient swampy forests that once existed.
Synonyms
A period long ago when swamp forests made much coal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines the specific geological name 'Pennsylvanian' (a named time interval) with the noun 'period', so the sense 'a geological time interval called the Pennsylvanian' is directly and compositionally derived from its parts. This modifier + category naming pattern is common and transparent across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily understand the meaning.
Etymology
Pennsylvanian period comes from the U.S. state Pennsylvania, where thick layers of coal and old rocks from that time were first studied. Scientists named the time after those rocks, so Pennsylvanian period now means 'the time about 323 to 299 million years ago' when many coal beds and swampy forests formed.
