a period of time marked by distinctive character, events, etc.

The use of steam for power marked the beginning of an era.

the period of time to which anything belongs or is to be assigned

She was born in the era of hansoms and gaslight.

a system of chronologic notation reckoned from a given date

The era of the Romans was based upon the time the city of Rome was founded.

a point of time from which succeeding years are numbered, as at the beginning of a system of chronology

Caesar died many years before our era.

a date or an event forming the beginning of any distinctive period

The year 1492 marks an era in world history.

Geology . a major division of geologic time composed of a number of periods.

noun

aeon , age , cycle , date , day , days , eon , epoch , generation , stage , term , [[timenotes:epoch applies to the beginning of a new period marked by radical changes and new developments - while era applies to the entire period; age denotes a period identified with some dominant personality or characteristic and period pertains to any portion of time]] , period , time