1. Any period of time during which glaciers covered a large part of the earth's surface
   "the most recent glacial epoch was during the Pleistocene";
   - ice age, glacial period

1. The Pleistocene epoch from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, characterized by extensive glaciation of the Northern Hemisphere and human evolution
   "Many large mammals went extinct during the Glacial epoch";
   - Pleistocene, Pleistocene epoch

Derived forms: glacial epochs

Type of: epoch, geological period, period

Part of: Age of Man, prehistoric culture, prehistory, Quaternary, Quaternary period

Encyclopedia: Glacial epoch