cambrian

4 definitions found

cambrian - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Primordial \Pri*mor"di*al\, a. [L. primordialis, from primordium
     the first beginning; primus first + ordiri to begin a web, to
     begin: cf. F. primordial.]
     1. First in order; primary; original; of earliest origin; as,
        primordial condition. "The primordial facts of our
        intelligent nature." --Sir W. Hamilton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the lowest beds of the
        Silurian age, corresponding to the Acadian and Potsdam
        periods in American geology. It is called also Cambrian,
        and by many geologists is separated from the Silurian.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Biol.) Originally or earliest formed in the growth of an
        individual or organ; as, a primordial leaf; a primordial
        cell.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Primordial utricle (Bot.), the interior lining of a young
        vegetable cell.
        [1913 Webster]

  Cambrian \Cam"bri*an\, a.
     1. (Geog.) Of or pertaining to Cambria or Wales.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the lowest subdivision of the
        rocks of the Silurian or Molluscan age; -- sometimes
        described as inferior to the Silurian. It is named from
        its development in Cambria or Wales. See the Diagram under
        Geology.
        [1913 Webster]

  Cambrian \Cam"bri*an\, n.
     1. A native of Cambria or Wales.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Geol.) The Cambrian formation.
        [1913 Webster]

cambrian - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Cambrian
      adj 1: of or relating to or characteristic of Wales or its
             people or their language; "the Welsh coast"; "Welsh
             syntax" [syn: Welsh, Cambrian]
      n 1: from 544 million to about 500 million years ago; marine
           invertebrates [syn: Cambrian, Cambrian period]
      2: a native or resident of Wales [syn: Welshman, Welsh,
         Cambrian, Cymry]