geology
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the science that studies the Earth's history, its rocks, and how it was formed.
the scientific discipline concerned with the physical structure and substance of the Earth, its history, and the processes that act on it.
Simple“She decided to study geology because she was fascinated by how mountains are formed.”
In context“Modern geology relies heavily on plate tectonics to explain the distribution of fossils and the formation of mountain ranges across different continents.”
UsageUncountable when referring to the academic field of study.
Synonymsearth science - 02 C1 Advanced
the specific types of rocks and soil found in a particular place.
the geological features or rock formations of a specific region or area.
Simple“The geology of this island is mostly volcanic rock and black sand.”
In context“The local geology consists primarily of limestone, which has led to the formation of extensive cave systems throughout the valley.”
UsageCan be used as a countable noun when comparing different regions.
Synonymsrock formationterrain
“That creates a challenge for scientists hoping to study chemical evidence connected to the Moon's ancient geology or possible biology.”
“In the first year of Bachillerato , biology will be combined with geology and environmental sciences.”
From geo- + -logy, partly after Renaissance Latin geōlogia, from Ancient Greek γεω- (geō-, “earth”) + Latin -logia (“the study of”), from Ancient Greek -λογία (-logía).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.