facies: Meaning and Definition of

fa•ci•es

1. general appearance, as of an animal or vegetable group.
2. the appearance and characteristics of a sedimentary deposit, esp. as they reflect the conditions and environment of deposition and serve to distinguish the deposit from contiguous deposits. Cf. metamorphic facies.
3. a facial expression characteristic of a disease or pathological condition.
4. a distinctive phase of a prehistoric cultural tradition.