facies

[fey-shee-eez, -sheez] /ˈfeɪ ʃiˌiz, -ʃiz/
noun, plural facies.
1.
general appearance, as of an animal or vegetable group.
2.
Geology. the appearance and characteristics of a sedimentary deposit, especially as they reflect the conditions and environment of deposition and serve to distinguish the deposit from contiguous deposits.
Compare metamorphic facies.
3.
Medicine/Medical. a facial expression characteristic of a disease or pathological condition.
4.
Archaeology. a distinctive phase of a prehistoric cultural tradition.
Origin
1350-1400, for an earlier sense; Middle English < Latin: form, figure, appearance, face, akin to facere to make
Related forms
subfacies, noun, plural subfacies.
Examples from the web for facies
  • These facial characteristics have subsequently be termed as being known as potter facies.
British Dictionary definitions for facies

facies

/ˈfeɪʃɪˌiːz/
noun (pl) -cies
1.
the general form and appearance of an individual or a group of plants or animals
2.
the characteristics of a rock or series of rocks reflecting their appearance, composition, and conditions of formation
3.
(med) the general facial expression of a patient, esp when typical of a specific disease or disorder See Hippocratic facies
Word Origin
C17: from Latin: appearance, face
facies in Medicine

facies fa·ci·es (fā'shē-ēz', -shēz)
n. pl. facies

  1. Face.

  2. The appearance or expression of the face, especially when typical of a certain disorder or disease.

  3. The general aspect or outward appearance, as of a given growth of flora.

facies in Science
facies
  (fā'shē-ēz', -shēz)   
Plural facies

    1. A body of sedimentary rock distinguished from others by its lithology, geometry, sedimentary structures, proximity to other types of sedimentary rock, and fossil content, and recognized as characteristic of a particular depositional environment.

    2. For a metamorphic rock, the particular combination of pressure and temperature under which metamorphism occurred.

  2. The general aspect or makeup of an ecological community, especially a local modification of a community characterized by a conspicuous or abundant species that is absent or less concentrated in other locations.

  3. The appearance or expression of the face, especially when typical of a certain disorder or disease.