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paleontology

paleontology

13 7.5
The study of fossils and ancient animals and plants preserved in rocks
  • noun
  • /ˌpeɪliɒnˈtɑːlədʒi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : paleontología
  • I am in town for a conference on vertebrate paleontology.
  • Vertebrate Paleontology
  • paleontology and geology
  • paleontology and archaeology

But if you say it's a SATA Luyuk or some place else, paleontology is very vague.

Examples

  • Studying paleontology helps us understand the evolution of life through ancient fossils.

  • Once they are accepted in the Junior Paleontology Program, the youth study five educational tracks.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Because paleontology is science, and science is about the truth.

  • You know, someone like you with an engineer's mind would really like paleontology.

  • Mary went on to become one of the founding mothers of the science of paleontology.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The answer lies in paleontology, the study of past geological periods through fossil remains.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Like all other scientific disciplines, paleontology has a history punctuated by change.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The disappearance remains one of paleontology's enduring mysteries.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Working with Hans Larsson, a graduate student in paleontology at the university, Andersen had taken CAT scans of dinosaur braincases.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Stephen Jay Gould (left) and Niles Eldredge, curator of paleontology, with Norman Newell, curator emeritus (seated).

    Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

fossilology
vspaleontology
  • Specialized
9.6

The study of fossils to learn about ancient life and environments

focuses on fossils preserved in rocks rather than broader environmental relations

Compounds

1 7.9

The study of fossils of animals with backbones, like fish and mammals

human paleontology
  • Specialized
7.8

The study of ancient human bones and how people changed over time

Surface Forms

paleontology singular

Morphology

paleontology = ontology (semi-transparent) = paleo + ontology

The components 'paleo-' and '-ology' (as seen in 'ontology') point to 'study of ancient things', but 'ontology' is a specialized term so many learners may only partially infer the precise meaning.

Etymology

Paleontology starts with paleo- meaning 'old' and ends with -logy meaning 'study', just like in biology. So, paleontology is the study of ancient life by looking at fossils.