First recorded in 1960–65.
Comes from petro-, a combining form meaning \"rock,\" and ichor, which in classical mythology means “ethereal fluid flowing in the veins of the gods.”
Sign up for more Word of the Day!

\r\nEXAMPLES OF PETRICHOR\r\n

The desert landscape was quickly transformed as petrichor filled the air after a long-awaited rainstorm.
As the storm passed, leaving behind puddles and damp earth, the sweet petrichor lingered like a fond memory.

\r\nIt's National Poetry Month, and we’ve created a challenge that really is for everyone. Submit now!","audio":"https://static.sfdict.com/audio/NEW2016/petrichor_000.mp3","definitions":[{"partofspeech":"noun","data":"a distinctive scent, usually described as earthy, pleasant, or sweet, produced by rainfall on very dry ground."}],"examples":[],"imageUrl":"https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/petrichor_IG.png","accentColor":"#0063D7"}},"status":"succeeded"}},"meta":{"requestId":"CzWMgxdoIoBTG-IwcKeXQ","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"indefinite-article","entry":"indefinite article"},{"slug":"indefinite-integral","entry":"indefinite integral"},{"slug":"indefinitely","entry":"indefinitely"},{"slug":"indefinite-number","entry":"indefinite number"},{"slug":"indefinite-pronoun","entry":"indefinite pronoun"}],"after":[{"slug":"indefinite-relative-pronoun","entry":"indefinite relative pronoun"},{"slug":"indehiscence","entry":"indehiscence"},{"slug":"indehiscent","entry":"indehiscent"},{"slug":"indeliberate","entry":"indeliberate"},{"slug":"indelible","entry":"indelible"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"indefinite-relative-clause"},"requestId":"g76Al7YSYRcIqlCjYt2ra","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"indefinite-relative-clause"},"requestId":"BIWLvkhse1oRjxT6DgdCK","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"Entry","audioPronunciations":[],"confusableNotes":[],"genderNotes":[],"grammarNotes":[],"headword":{"displayForm":"indefinite relative clause","slug":"indefinite-relative-clause"},"idioms":[],"orderKey":99999010,"ordinal":10,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechBlock":[{"definitions":[{"antonymsConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"def\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"a relative clause with an indefinite relative pronoun as subordinating word, as\", \"type\": \"text\"}, {\"text\": \"what they said\", \"type\": \"emphasis\"}, {\"text\": \"in\", \"type\": \"text\"}, {\"text\": \"We heard what they said.\", \"type\": \"emphasis\"}]}]","examples":[],"ordinal":1,"subdefinitions":[],"synonymsConnection":{"edges":[]}}],"inflectionSets":[],"labelSet":null,"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciationNotes":[],"pronunciationSet":null,"relatedFormSets":[],"sensitiveNotes":[],"spellingNotes":[],"synonymStudy":[],"usageAlerts":[],"usageNotes":[],"variants":[],"verbPhrases":[]}],"url":"indefinite-relative-clause"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"indefinite-relative-clause"},"requestId":"EUMAI25iXhpUSCKSnVQwQ","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"indefinite-relative-clause","displayForm":"indefinite relative clause","canonicalSlug":"indefinite-relative-clause","content":[{"source":"luna","entries":[{"id":"u3bb48a285cbafaf0.-3bc55cee.14d9e6ab3c9.1d5d","type":"normal","entry":"indefinite relative clause","entrySyllabified":"indefinite relative clause","entryVariants":[],"homograph":null,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","postdefinitionContent":"","definition":"a relative clause with an indefinite relative pronoun as subordinating word, as what they said in We heard what they said.","synonyms":"","antonyms":"","cites":[]}],"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":""}],"origin":null,"originData":null,"supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"variantSpellings":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"confusables":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":77872,"index-rank-01":["indefinite relative clause"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":["indefinite relative clause's","indefinite relative clauses","indefinite relative clauses'"],"index-rank-05":[],"index-rank-06":[],"index-rank-07":[],"index-rank-08":[],"index-rank-09":[],"index-rank-10":[],"index-rank-11":[],"index-rank-12":[],"index-rank-13":[],"index-rank-14":[],"index-rank-15":[],"categoryId":"294","complexityScore":0.31021482748025564,"gradeLevel":"middle_school","tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"indefinite-relative-clause"},"requestId":"8z8lk1-4ldjAATOHfX2h-","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":[],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"indefinite-relative-clause"},"requestId":"wdOCqdqIx6x-lrDRSyKcj","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

indefinite relative clause

noun

Word of the Day