glacial epoch

(noun) any period of time during which glaciers covered a large part of the earth's surface. Synonyms: ice age, glacial period, glacial epoch. Example: "The most recent ice age was during the pleistocene."

(noun) from two million to 11 thousand years ago; extensive glaciation of the northern hemisphere; the time of human evolution. Synonyms: Pleistocene, Pleistocene epoch, Glacial epoch.