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Definition of murchison

murchison

/ˈmɜːrtʃɪsən/
Mur · chi · son
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murchison Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A highly studied carbonaceous chondrite meteorite that fell near the town of Murchison in Victoria, Australia, in 1969, famous for containing complex organic compounds such as amino acids.

Example

"Analysis of the Murchison meteorite provided early and crucial evidence that the building blocks of life could be formed in extraterrestrial environments."

2

A major waterfall on the Victoria Nile in northwestern Uganda, renowned for its immense power as the river forces its way through a narrow, rocky gorge.

3

Australian A small rural town located on the Goulburn River in Victoria, Australia, historically known for its pastoral stations and internationally recognized as a major meteorite impact site.

• Nearby Words

mura river
mural
muralist
murchison
murchison falls
murchison river
murcia

Word Origin & Etymology

A Scottish patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Mhurchaidh', meaning 'son of Murdo' (sea warrior). As a place name and scientific term, it often honors the Scottish geologist Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, or refers to locations bearing the name.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Murchison. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/murchison
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