Standard Lemma guide

Tonian

adj · name · 2 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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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈtəʊ.ni.ən/
  • General-American: /ˈtoʊ.ni.ən/
  • rhymes with -əʊniən

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of a geologic period within the Neoproterozoic era from about 1000 to 850 million years ago.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: geography, geology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

name

Meaning 2

The Tonian period.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: geography, geology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Ancient Greek τόνος (tónos, “stretch”).

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: tonium — Tonian period
  • Estonian: ton — Tonian period
  • Greek: Τόνια (Tónia) — Tonian period
  • Hungarian: Tonium — Tonian period