Definition of: micropaleontology

(mī′krō·pā′lē·ən·tol′·ə·jē) noun
The study of microscopic fossils in relation to their geologic and ecological environment, especially those forms found in core samples from submarine depths.
—mi′cro·pa′le·on′to·log′ic (-pā′le·on′tə·loj′ik) or ·i·cal adjective
—mi′cro·pa′le·on·tol′o·gist noun