I. |kärbə|nif(ə)rəs, |kȧb- adjective
Etymology: carboni- + -ferous
1. : producing or containing carbon or coal
2. usually capitalized
a. : of or relating to the period of the Paleozoic geologic era between the Devonian and the Permian — see geologic time table
b. : of or relating to the system of rocks formed in the Carboniferous period
II. ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷( ̷ ̷) ̷ ̷ noun
( -es )
Usage: usually capitalized
: the Carboniferous period or system of rocks