Standard Lemma guide

lichenometry

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A geomorphic method of geochronologic dating that uses lichen growth to determine the age of exposed rock.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: archaeology, biology, geography, geology, geomorphology, history, human-sciences, natural-sciences, paleontology, sciences

Examples

  • In lichenometry, a lichen is presumed to grow radially at a specific, constant rate: this rate is used to estimate the age of the largest lichen on a rock surface, and thus the length of time the rock has been exposed.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From licheno- + -metry.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: lichenometrie — geochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
  • French: lichénométrie — geochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
  • German: Lichenometrie — geochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
  • Italian: lichenometria — geochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
  • Norwegian: lichenometri — geochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
  • Polish: lichenometria — geochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
  • Portuguese: liquenometria — geochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
  • Swedish: lichenometri — geochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
  • Welsh: cenfetreg — geochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
  • Welsh: cenfesureg — geochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
  • Welsh: dyddio cen — geochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth