use of chemical analysis to estimate the age of geological specimens
"The geologist used carbon dating to determine how long ago the rock samples were formed."
A form of romantic courtship typically between two individuals with the aim of assessing the other's suitability as a partner in an intimate relationship or as a spouse.
"After months of casual dating, Sarah realized her new boyfriend was not suitable for marriage and decided to end their relationship."
In plain English: Dating is when two people spend time together to see if they like each other enough to become a couple.
"Their dating life has been rocky for the past few months."
Usage: As a noun, dating refers to the act of going on regular social outings with someone you are romantically interested in to determine if a relationship is viable. Use this term when describing the stage of courtship before deciding to become exclusive partners.
present participle of date
"After years of dating back to his childhood, he finally found a pen pal who remembered him from that time."
In plain English: To go out with someone you are interested in romantically to see if you like each other.
"They have been dating for six months now."
Usage: When used as a verb in everyday conversation, dating means to go on social outings with someone you are romantically interested in or evaluating as a potential partner. This usage describes the process of getting to know each other before deciding to enter a committed relationship.
Dating derives from the Old French dator (giver) via the Latin dat- (to give), originally referring to the act of assigning or fixing a specific date. In modern usage, it evolved in English during the 19th century to mean establishing a chronological order for events or engaging in courtship rituals.