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growth ring
noun
: a layer of wood (such as an annual ring) produced during a single period of growth
Examples of growth ring in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The team explains how scientists can examine an octopus’ beak, stylets, and growth rings in the lab to determine how old the animal is.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024
By measuring growth rings on the fossils, the researchers found that they were closely clustered toward the outside of the bone.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
The growth rings inside the bone from three specimens — including Jane and Petey — likewise suggest slowing growth rates.
—Asher Elbein, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2024
From analyzing growth rings found in the femur and tibia bones, the team concluded Jane was a juvenile T. rex, as a T. rex is full-grown at around 20 years old, according to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024
The new results contradict findings published in Science in 2020 by paleontologist Holly Woodward of the University of Oklahoma, who used growth ring analyses to support the juvenile T. rex argument.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Jan. 2024
Like tree trunks, the cross sections contained annual growth rings, which were deposited as the dinosaurs developed.
—Jack Tamisiea, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2023
He’s been trying to date the floor by examining the construction methods used to build it, as well as the growth rings that can be seen in the surviving wood.
—Gretchen Smail, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2023
Tree trunks have growth rings; each concentric circle represents one year.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 27 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'growth ring.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1907, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near growth ring
Cite this Entry
“Growth ring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/growth%20ring. Accessed 30 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
growth ring
noun
: a layer of wood (as an annual ring) produced during a single period of growth
More from Merriam-Webster on growth ring
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about growth ring
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