/ep"euhk/ or, esp. Brit., /ee"pok/ , n.
1. a particular period of time marked by distinctive features, events, etc.: The treaty ushered in an epoch of peace and good will.
2. the beginning of a distinctive period in the history of anything: The splitting of the atom marked an epoch in scientific discovery.
3. a point of time distinguished by a particular event or state of affairs; a memorable date: His coming of age was an epoch in his life.
4. Geol. any of several divisions of a geologic period during which a geologic series is formed. Cf. age (def. 12). See table under geologic time .
5. Astron.
a. an arbitrarily fixed instant of time or date, usually the beginning of a century or half century, used as a reference in giving the elements of a planetary orbit or the like.
b. the mean longitude of a planet as seen from the sun at such an instant or date.
6. Physics. the displacement from zero at zero time of a body undergoing simple harmonic motion.
[ 1605-15; epocha epoché pause, check, fixed time, equiv. to ep- EP- + och- (var. s. of échein to have) + -e n. suffix ]
Syn. 1. age, date, era, time. See age .