What is the difference between epoch and era

The serves as a reference point from which time is measured. Published: 6 Apr, Era noun A time period of indeterminate length, generally more than one year. Epoch noun A particular period of history, especially one considered noteworthy or remarkable. Era noun geology A unit of time, smaller than eons and greater than periods. Epoch noun A notable event which marks the beginning of such a period. Era noun A fixed point of time, usually an epoch, from which a series of years is reckoned.

Epoch noun astronomy A precise instant of time that is used as a point of reference. Era noun A period of time reckoned from some particular date or epoch; a succession of years dating from some important event; as, the era of Alexander; the era of Christ, or the Christian era see under Christian. Epoch noun computing Uses in computing. Era noun A period of time in which a new order of things prevails; a signal stage of history; an epoch. Epoch noun A precise instant of time that is used as a point of reference e.

Era noun a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event. Epoch noun One complete presentation of the training data set to an iterative machine learning algorithm. Era noun a major division of geological time; an era is usually divided into two or more periods. Epoch noun geology A unit of geologic time subdividing a period into smaller parts. Era An era is a span of time defined for the purposes of chronology or historiography, as in the regnal eras in the history of a given monarchy, a calendar era used for a given calendar, or the geological eras defined for the history of Earth.

Epoch verb To divide data into segments by time period. Epoch noun A fixed point of time, established in history by the occurrence of some grand or remarkable event; a point of time marked by an event of great subsequent influence; as, the epoch of the creation; the birth of Christ was the epoch which gave rise to the Christian era. Epoch noun A period of time, longer or shorter, remarkable for events of great subsequent influence; a memorable period; as, the epoch of maritime discovery, or of the Reformation.

Epoch noun A division of time characterized by the prevalence of similar conditions of the earth; commonly a minor division or part of a period. Epoch noun The date at which a planet or comet has a longitude or position.

Epoch noun a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event. In general or popular writing, the terms era, epoch, and age can be used, without error, synonymously to refer to a particular span of time.

Writers who wish to respect their more precise and historical meanings or who need to respect jargon, can follow these rules:. An epoch is a fixed point in time like the zero date of a calendar, or the moment a world-changing event occurred , especially one that marks the beginning of a new era.

An era follows an epoch and is defined by it. It seems to be more common to call it the "Information Age", as evidenced by Wikipedia and Google search results: Number of search results from Google: digital age - million digital era - million digital epoch - 8 million Internet age - million Internet era - million Internet epoch - 7 million information age - million.

Improve this answer. Add a comment. Epoch is from latin and age is from french, you may also use 'time'. MansaSakura MansaSakura 11 1 1 bronze badge. Actually, according to etymonline, epoch is from Greek, and age from Latin. I fail to see how this provides an answer to the question, though, even if the etymologies would have been correctly attributed.

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