Paleolithic

Paleolithic

See also: paleolithic

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

    From paleo- + -lithic.

    Pronunciation

    • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpeɪl.iː.əʊˌlɪθ.ɪk/
    • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈpeɪlioʊˌlɪθɪk/, /ˈpeɪliəˌlɪθɪk/
    • Audio (US):(file)

    Proper noun

    Paleolithic

    1. A period that lasted from two and a half million years ago to 10,000 BCE; the Old Stone Age.
      Synonym: Old Stone Age
      Holonym: Stone Age
      Comeronyms: New Stone Age, Neolithic

    Derived terms

    Translations

    Adjective

    Paleolithic (not comparable)

    1. Of or referring to the Old Stone Age (the Paleolithic period or Paleolithic age).
      • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 18:
        We find material evidences of magical practices in the European caves of the Palæolithic age[.]
    2. (hyperbolic) Antiquated, antediluvian.
      • 2025 August 4, Mike Isaac, “A.I. Has Ushered in Silicon Valley’s ‘Hard Tech’ Era”, in The New York Times[1], archived from the original on 4 August 2025:
        Stacked up against ChatGPT’s ability to instantly transform any image into a Studio Ghibli cartoon, Instagram’s photo filters are practically Paleolithic.

    Translations

    See also