1. n. []

The study of the history, composition, relative ages and distribution of strata, and the interpretation of strata to elucidate Earth history. The comparison, or correlation, of separated strata can include study of their lithology, fossil content, and relative or absolute age, or lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and chronostratigraphy.

See related terms: absolute age,  chronostratigraphic chart,  formation,  geochronology,  geologic time scale,  isochore,  isopach,  lithofacies,  paleontology,  plankton,  relative age,  sequence stratigraphy,  stratigraphic analysis,  stratum,  superposition,  true stratigraphic thickness,  true vertical thickness,  uniformitarianism