Cambrian

adjective

Cam·​bri·​an ˈkam-brē-ən  ˈkām- 

1

: welsh

2

: of, relating to, or being the earliest geologic period of the Paleozoic era or the corresponding system of rocks marked by fossils of nearly every major invertebrate animal group see Geologic Time Table

Cambrian noun

Examples of Cambrian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This was just before or at the start of the Cambrian explosion, when a huge number of new, more complex species arose. —Sam Jones, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024

Now, researchers have used a combination of proxy records and climate models to reconstruct the Earth's climate for the last half-billion years, providing a global record of temperatures stretching all the way back to near the Cambrian explosion of complex life. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 20 Sep. 2024

Experts believe the micro-animal’s earliest ancestors can be traced as far back as 500 million years ago to the Cambrian Period. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2024

This could have occurred well before the Cambrian Explosion when most animal life began to form. —Devika Rao, theweek, 8 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin Cambria Wales, from Middle Welsh Cymry Wales, Welshmen

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Cambrian

adjective

Cam·​bri·​an ˈkam-brē-ən  ˈkām- 

: of, relating to, or being the earliest period of the Paleozoic era of geological history or the corresponding system of rocks marked by fossils of nearly every major invertebrate animal group see geologic time

Cambrian noun