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| rel·ict [ réllikt ] |
noun (plural rel·icts) |
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| Definition: |
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1. biology surviving species: a species of organism surviving long after the extinction of related species, or a once widespread natural population surviving only in isolated localities because of environmental changes
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2. geology mineral unaltered by metamorphism: a mineral that did not change when the host rock metamorphosed
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3. geology remnant of preexisting formation: a remnant of a preexisting land or rock formation left behind after a destructive event has taken place
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4. law
(
archaic
)
Same as widown (sense 1)
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adjective |
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| Definition: |
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biology surviving unchanged: surviving in its original form when other related organisms have become extinct or its environment has changed completely
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| [15th century. < Latin relictus "left behind" < relinquere (see relinquish)] |
