eon

Everyday

1. An eon is an extremely long period of time, too long to count easily. tree →
2. (science) In geology an eon is the biggest division of Earth's history, lasting hundreds of millions of years or more. tree →
3. (informal) Eons means a very long time, as in «I waited for eons». tree →

In the lessons

Science (Earth's history, rocks, fossils) and everyday exaggeration. Phrases: for eons, eons ago, the Phanerozoic eon.

Examples

• Rocks form over eons. tree →
• Dinosaurs lived eons before people. tree →
• I've been waiting for eons! tree →
• The Earth's history is split into eons, eras and periods. tree →
• The canyon was carved by the river over eons. tree →
• It feels like eons since summer. tree →

Note

UK spelling often aeon; US eon. Said «EE-on». In geology an eon is longer than an era, which is longer than a period. «Eons» in speech is an exaggeration, not a real count.