car·bon·if·er·ous /ˌkɑrbəˈnɪf(ə)rəs/
 石炭紀,石炭層(a.)含碳或煤的


 Car·bon·if·er·ous a.  Producing or containing carbon or coal.
 Carboniferous age Geol., the age immediately following the Devonian, or Age of fishes, and characterized by the vegetation which formed the coal beds. This age embraces three periods, the Subcarboniferous, the Carboniferous, and Permian. See Age of acrogens, under Acrogen.
 Carboniferous formation Geol., the series of rocks (including sandstones, shales, limestones, and conglomerates, with beds of coal) which make up the strata of the Carboniferous age or Carboniferous period.  See the Diagram under Geology.

 ◄ ►


 carboniferous
      adj 1: of or relating to the Carboniferous geologic era;
             "carboniferous rock system"
      2: relating to or consisting of or yielding carbon [syn: carbonaceous,
          carbonous, carbonic]
      n : from 345 million to 280 million years ago [syn: {Carboniferous
          period]