[glaciation]. (1) Noun: Strictly, a glacial or glaciation is a period during which ice-sheets, ice-caps and glaciers grow. The term has also commonly been used to describe the periods of generally cold climate which occurred at intervals during the Quaternary period (see Tables 5-7, pages 418-20). It is, however, now becoming clear that ice-sheets grew only during parts of these so-called ‘glacials’ (for example, the Devensian). For this reason, the term ‘cold stage’ is preferable. See (2) Adjective: Appertaining to erosion and deposition by ice-sheets, ice-caps and glaciers, their associated proglacial streams and lakes, and periglacial activity outside the ice margin.
The Macmillan dictionary of archaeology, Ruth D. Whitehouse, 1983Copied