late glacialadj.n.
/leɪt ˈɡleɪʃl/, /leɪt ˈɡleɪsɪəl/, U.S. /ˌleɪt ˈɡleɪʃ(ə)l/ Geology.
A. adj.
Designating the latter part of the last Quaternary glacial period, immediately preceding the current postglacial period, marked predominantly by the retreat of glaciers; of or relating to this period.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > age or period > [adjective] > quaternary > late or post-glacial
postglacial1851
late glacial1873
Finiglacial1910
Laufen1927
Flandrian1934
1873 O. Fisher in Geol. Mag. 10 163 (heading) On some points connected with late glacial action and raised sea-beds.
1880 J. Geikie Prehistoric Europe xvi. 390 The red and parti-coloured brick-clays of the late glacial series.
1927 H. Peake & H. J. Fleure Hunters & Artists i. 11 (caption) Chart showing the correlation of the late glacial stages.
1957 Encycl. Brit. V. 826/2 Much information as to late-glacial and post-glacial climates is provided by the vegetation, especially of peat-bogs.
2007 Brit. Archaeol. Sept. 35/4 It comprised two sets of earthworks on opposite sides of a late glacial meltwater channel, the Hampole beck palaeochannel.
B. n.
With the and capital initial or initials. The late glacial period; the sedimentary deposits from this period.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > age or period > [noun] > ice-age or glaciation > late or post-glacial
postglacial1928
sub-boreal1929
late glacial1947
1947 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. 37 35/1 According to Antevs' chronology the first 15,000 years represent the late-glacial, and only the last 10,000 years the Postglacial.
1975 J. G. Evans Environment Early Man Brit. Isles ii. 46 A characteristic plant of the Late-glacial.
2007 E. Anderson et al. Global Environments Through Quaternary v. 151 The Earth's magnetic field was also relatively weak during the Late Glacial compared with the present.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1873