era Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
    epoch.
  2. noun a major division of geological time; an era is usually divided into two or more periods
    geological era.
  3. noun (baseball) a measure of a pitcher's effectiveness; calculated as the average number of earned runs allowed by the pitcher for every nine innings pitched
    earned run average.

WordNet

E"ra noun
Etymology
LL. aera an era, in earlier usage, the items of an account, counters, pl. of aes, aeris, brass, money. See Ore.
Wordforms
plural Eras
Definitions
  1. A fixed point of time, usually an epoch, from which a series of years is reckoned.
    The foundation of Solomon's temple is conjectured by Ideler to have been an era. R. S. Poole.
  2. A period of time reckoned from some particular date or epoch; a succession of years dating from some important event; as, the era of Alexander; the era of Christ, or the Christian era (see under Christian).
    The first century of our era. M. Arnold.
  3. A period of time in which a new order of things prevails; a signal stage of history; an epoch.
    Painting may truly be said to have opened the new era of culture. J. A. Symonds.
    Syn. -- Epoch; time; date; period; age; dispensation. See Epoch.

Webster 1913