n.
Pronunciation: t ə - ' fä-n ə -m ē , ta-
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek taph ē burial + English -nomy
Date: 1940
: the study of the processes (as burial, decay, and preservation) that affect animal and plant remains as they become fossilized also : the processes themselves
– taph · o · nom · ic \ ˌ ta-f ə - ' nä-mik \ adjective
– ta · phon · o · mist \ t ə - ' fä-n ə -mist, ta- \ noun