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Definition of carboniferous
1 : producing or containing carbon or coal
2 capitalized : of, relating to, or being the period of the Paleozoic era between the Devonian and the Permian or the corresponding system of rocks that includes coal beds — see geologic time table
Carboniferous
nounFrom the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of carboniferous from the Web
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True spiders, to which sea spiders (some of which have more than eight legs) are but distantly related, are known for certain only from as far back as the Carboniferous period, about 300m years ago.
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A new microsaur from the Early Carboniferous (Viséan) of East Kirkton, Scotland, showing soft tissue evidence.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'carboniferous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of carboniferous
1799
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