Cenozoic
/ˌsiːnəˈzəʊɪk
/(also Cainozoic)
adjective Geology
1Relating to or denoting the most recent era, following the Mesozoic era and comprising the Tertiary and Quaternary periods.The late Jurassic, Cretaceous and Cenozoic sedimentary record from northern Chile is dominated entirely by sediments deposited under an arid to semiarid climate....
- Most deposits are of Mesozoic or Cenozoic age, but some Palaeozoic examples are known, such as those in the Appalachian orogen of Canada and the United States.
- Changes in Mesozoic and Cenozoic thicknesses and facies across the northsouth faults indicate their pre-collisional origins.
1.1 (as noun the Cenozoic) The Cenozoic era, or the system of rocks deposited during it.
The Cenozoic has lasted from about 65 million years ago to the present day. It has seen the rapid evolution and rise to dominance of mammals, birds, and flowering plants.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek kainos 'new' + zōion 'animal' + -ic.