Main Entry: ep·och

Pronunciation: \ˈe-pək, ˈe-ˌpäk, US also & British usually ˈē-ˌpäk\

Function: noun

Etymology: Medieval Latin epocha, from Greek epochē cessation, fixed point, from epechein to pause, hold back, from epi- + echein to hold — more at scheme

Date: 1614

1 a : an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development b : a memorable event or date
2 a : an extended period of time usually characterized by a distinctive development or by a memorable series of events b : a division of geologic time less than a period and greater than an age
3 : an instant of time or a date selected as a point of reference (as in astronomy)

synonyms see period