SKIP TO CONTENT

Triassic

/traɪˈæsɪk/
IPA guide

Other forms: Triassics

In Earth's geological history, the Triassic period was the very beginning of the "Age of the Dinosaurs," starting about 250 million years ago, before the Jurassic period, in the Mesozoic era.

The term Triassic was coined from a Greek word meaning "three." It was used to refer to a distinct, three-layered rock sequence found by geologists in Germany just below Jurassic rocks. While less famous than the Jurassic, the Triassic ushered in the first dinosaurs, along with very small, early mammals. For most of this period, Earth's land was clustered into one supercontinent, Pangea, which only began to break apart at the end of the Triassic.

Definitions of Triassic
  1. adjective
    relating to or denoting the first period of the Mesozoic era, from about 252 to 201 million years ago
  2. noun
    the period of geologic time from approximately 252 to 201 million years ago; the first period of the Mesozoic era
    synonyms: Triassic period
    see moresee less
    example of:
    geological period, period
    a unit of geological time during which a system of rocks formed
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘Triassic'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family