geology

noun

ge·​ol·​o·​gy jē-ˈä-lə-jē 

plural geologies

1

a

: a science that deals with the history of the earth and its life especially as recorded in rocks

b

: a study of the solid matter of a celestial body (such as the moon)

2

: geologic features

the geology of Arizona

3

: a treatise on geology

geologist

jē-ˈä-lə-jist 

noun

Examples of geology in a Sentence

learning about the geology of Hawaii

Recent Examples on the Web

The beauty and abundance of shrublands in the West are packed with inspiration throughout its diverse topography, geology, hydrology and microclimates. —Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024

And given Earth’s ever-changing geology, in which massive craters are covered over by volcanic activity and the movement of tectonic plates, the evidence of what happened millions of years ago is hard to find. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 22 Oct. 2024

Rights & Permissions Douglas Fox writes about biology, geology and climate science from California. —Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 21 Oct. 2024

Drawing on his geology background, Gentry this year successfully shepherded through the General Assembly a bill that makes coal the state’s official rock. —Rebecca Grapevine, The Courier-Journal, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin geologia, from ge- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

geology

noun

ge·​ol·​o·​gy jē-ˈäl-ə-jē 

plural geologies

1

a

: a science that deals with the history of the earth and its life especially as recorded in rocks

b

: a study of the features of a heavenly body (as the moon)

2

: the geologic features (as mountains or plains) of an area

geologic

ˌjē-ə-ˈläj-ik

adjective

or geological

-i-kəl

geologically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

geologist

jē-ˈäl-ə-jəst 

noun