geology

/dʒiˈɒlədʒi/jee-O-luh-jee

/dʒiˈɑlədʒi/jee-AH-luh-jee

Meaningthe study of the earth

Common meaning: the science of the earth's rocks and how they formed

geothe earth, landLiddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), p. 307 · scan
loga word, saying; reckoning, reasonLiddell & Scott, Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon (1889), p. 476 · scan
ynoun ending: study, state or act

‘the earth, land’ + ‘a word, saying’ → geology

Journey through time

Neither part’s path through time is traced in our sources yet; each root is shown from its dictionary entry.

geo — Ancient Greek γῆ (gê) “the earth, land” (dictionary form; path not traced)
log — Ancient Greek λόγος (lógos) “a word, saying; reckoning, reason” (dictionary form; path not traced)

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Ancient Greek γῆ (gê) ‘the earth, land’ + Ancient Greek λόγος (lógos) ‘a word, saying; reckoning, reason’.

Did you know (Greek logos meant…): our wording, based on Liddell & Scott, Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon (1889), entry λόγος (lógos), p. 476 · dictionary scan

Did you know (Greek ge, the…): our wording, based on Liddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), entry γῆ (gê), p. 307 · dictionary scan

Roots

γῆ (gê) Ancient Greek “the earth, land”
λόγος (lógos) Ancient Greek “a word, saying; reckoning, reason”

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