geology

noun

ge·​ol·​o·​gy jē-ˈä-lə-jē How to pronounce geology (audio)
plural geologies
1
a
: a science that deals with the history of the earth and its life especially as recorded in rocks
b
: a study of the solid matter of a celestial body (such as the moon)
2
: geologic features
the geology of Arizona
3
: a treatise on geology
geologist noun

Examples of geology in a Sentence

learning about the geology of Hawaii
Recent Examples on the Web Experts have warned that aside from geology, Nepal has been particularly vulnerable to earthquakes due to the substandard quality of its buildings. Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2023 The new time estimates add crucial context for understanding the volcanic eruption at Argyle, says Evan Smith, a researcher at the Gemological Institute of America, who researches the geology of diamonds but was not involved in the new study. Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023 The reader comes away with not just some esoteric knowledge about geology or particle physics or oranges, but a sense of the person studying the subject, as well as McPhee studying the person. Christopher Beam, WIRED, 14 Sep. 2023 California’s complex geology has created a multitude of different soil profiles. Lucy Warren, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2023 Spruce Pine’s planetary importance follows from an accident of geology. Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023 At each of its 10 stops, Lucy will map the asteroid’s size, color and surface geology; assess its mass and density; and check for any rings. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2023 Philipp Heck, the curator of meteorite and physical geology collections at the Field Museum, tells Vox’s Ellen Ioanes. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Sep. 2023 Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, a seismologist and geology professor at Western Washington University, tracked the seismic activity from the concert and discovered the movement caused by the Swifties broke the previous record of movement at Lumen Field. Kate Perez, USA TODAY, 28 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'geology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin geologia, from ge- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of geology was in 1735

Dictionary Entries Near geology

Cite this Entry

“Geology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geology. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

geology

noun
ge·​ol·​o·​gy jē-ˈäl-ə-jē How to pronounce geology (audio)
plural geologies
1
a
: a science that deals with the history of the earth and its life especially as recorded in rocks
b
: a study of the features of a heavenly body (as the moon)
2
: the geologic features (as mountains or plains) of an area
geologic
ˌjē-ə-ˈläj-ik
adjective
or geological
-i-kəl
geologically
-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb
geologist noun

More from Merriam-Webster on geology

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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