e ‧ ra W3 /ˈɪərə $ ˈɪrə/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: aera 'number for calculating from' , from Latin , 'counters' , plural of aes 'copper, money' ]
a period of time in history that is known for a particular event, or for particular qualities
era of
We live in an era of instant communication.
a new era of world peace
His death marked the end of an era.
the Victorian era
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + era
▪ a new era
The talks signalled a new era of cooperation between the two countries.
▪ the present era
People feel much less secure in the present era of international terrorism.
▪ the modern/post-war/Victorian etc era
a collection of romantic paintings from the Victorian era
▪ the Blair/Bush etc era (=the time when a particular political leaders was in power, used especially in journalism)
The end of the Bush era was defined, at least in part, by the war in Iraq.
▪ a bygone era (=a time in the past, usually when something was good)
The buildings have the elegance of a bygone era.
▪ a golden era (=a time when something is at its most successful)
a collection of songs from the golden era of rock 'n' roll
■ verbs
▪ enter an era
We have entered an era of instant global communication.
▪ usher in an era (=to be the start of a new era)
His death ushered in an era of political instability.
▪ an era begins
A new era began for Northern Ireland with the signing of the peace agreement.
▪ an era ends
The era of cheap oil has ended.
■ phrases
▪ the beginning/end of an era
The closure of the last coal mine marked the end of an era in Wales.
▪ the dawn/dawning of a new era (=the time when something important first begins)
The fall of the Berlin Wall marked the dawn of a new era in Europe.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ a period in history
▪ period a particular time in history, especially one studied as a subject:
the late Victorian period
|
the interwar period
|
During that period many people moved from the countryside to the towns.
▪ time a period of years, months, days etc:
The 1960s were a time of great social change.
|
the biggest earthquake in modern times
|
Verdun was an important city in Roman times.
▪ age a long period, especially one that represents a particular stage in the development of civilization or technology:
the industrial age
|
We are now in the age of the Internet.
|
the Stone Age (=when people used tools made of stone)
▪ era a long period that has a particular character or that is marked by particular events:
We live in an era of breathtaking change.
|
the post-war era
|
De Gaulle’s death marked the end of an era.
▪ epoch /ˈiːpɒk $ ˈepək/ formal means the same as era , but sounds more formal and important:
We are now entering a new epoch in human history.
|
the colonial epoch
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It was the end of an epoch.