Definitions for relative dating
rel·a·tive dat·ing

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 12 votes

1. relative datingnoun

   A method of determining the age of a fossil by comparing its placement with that of fossils in other layers of rock.

2. relative datingnoun

   An act of so doing.

WikipediaRate this definition:3.7 / 3 votes

1. Relative dating

   Relative dating is the science of determining the relative order of past events (i.e., the age of an object in comparison to another), without necessarily determining their absolute age (i.e. estimated age). In geology, rock or superficial deposits, fossils and lithologies can be used to correlate one stratigraphic column with another. Prior to the discovery of radiometric dating in the early 20th century, which provided a means of absolute dating, archaeologists and geologists used relative dating to determine ages of materials. Though relative dating can only determine the sequential order in which a series of events occurred, not when they occurred, it remains a useful technique. Relative dating by biostratigraphy is the preferred method in paleontology and is, in some respects, more accurate. The Law of Superposition, which states that older layers will be deeper in a site than more recent layers, was the summary outcome of 'relative dating' as observed in geology from the 17th century to the early 20th century.

WikidataRate this definition:3.1 / 10 votes

1. Relative dating

   Relative dating is the science determining the relative order of past events, without necessarily determining their absolute age. In geology rock or superficial deposits, fossils and lithologies can be used to correlate one stratigraphic column with another. Prior to the discovery of radiometric dating which provided a means of absolute dating in the early 20th century, archaeologists and geologists were largely limited to the use of relative dating techniques to determine the geological events. Though relative dating can only determine the sequential order in which a series of events occurred, not when they occur, it remains a useful technique especially in materials lacking radioactive isotopes. Relative dating by biostratigraphy is the preferred method in paleontology, and is in some respects more accurate. The Law of Superposition was the summary outcome of 'relative dating' as observed in geology from the 17th century to the early 20th century. The regular order of occurrence of fossils in rock layers was discovered around 1800 by William Smith. While digging the Somerset Coal Canal in southwest England, he found that fossils were always in the same order in the rock layers. As he continued his job as a surveyor, he found the same patterns across England. He also found that certain animals were in only certain layers and that they were in the same layers all across England. Due to that discovery, Smith was able to recognize the order that the rocks were formed. Sixteen years after his discovery, he published a geological map of England showing the rocks of different geologic time eras.

How to pronounce relative dating?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say relative dating in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of relative dating in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of relative dating in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Relative_Dating
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_Dating
3. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=relative dating