Definition of "facies"

facies

/ˈfeɪ.ʃi.iːz/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural facies
1. General appearance.
  Quotations
  The Chilean Amphijubula Schust. (Schuster, 1970a) which has the facies of a small Frullania and agrees with Frullania in leaf insertion and branching, has a nontiered seta with 16 epidermal cell rows surrounding 4 inner rows.
  1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, page 6
2. (medicine) Facial features, like an expression or complexion, typical for patients having certain diseases or conditions.
3. (geology) A body of rock with specified characteristics reflecting its formation, composition, age, and fossil content.