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":"d7NgXzWHsUp9FF8YcTRGl","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"scission","entry":"scission"},{"slug":"scissor","entry":"scissor"},{"slug":"scissorlike","entry":"scissorlike"},{"slug":"scissors","entry":"scissors"},{"slug":"scissors-chair","entry":"scissors chair"}],"after":[{"slug":"scissors-kick","entry":"scissors kick"},{"slug":"scissors-truss","entry":"scissors truss"},{"slug":"scissortail","entry":"scissortail"},{"slug":"scissure","entry":"scissure"},{"slug":"sci-tech","entry":"sci-tech"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"scissors-jack"},"requestId":"a94wt5b947-umW7VFCUPY","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"scissors-jack"},"requestId":"Jd537QnoB_gSHOuWkYIXE","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"Entry","audioPronunciations":[],"confusableNotes":[],"genderNotes":[],"grammarNotes":[],"headword":{"displayForm":"scissors jack","slug":"scissors-jack"},"idioms":[],"orderKey":99999010,"ordinal":10,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechBlock":[{"definitions":[{"antonymsConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"def\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"a horizontal screw that raises or lowers a hinged, diamond-shaped frame.\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[],"ordinal":1,"subdefinitions":[],"synonymsConnection":{"edges":[]}}],"inflectionSets":[],"labelSet":null,"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciationNotes":[],"pronunciationSet":null,"relatedFormSets":[],"sensitiveNotes":[],"spellingNotes":[],"synonymStudy":[],"usageAlerts":[],"usageNotes":[],"variants":[{"variantChunk":"{\"text\": \"or\", \"type\": \"var\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"scis\\ue003sor jack\\ue005\", \"type\": \"form\"}]}"}],"verbPhrases":[]}],"url":"scissors-jack"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"scissors-jack"},"requestId":"N_pXlJoHsUEwhHoDAlbTP","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"scissors-jack","displayForm":"scissors jack","canonicalSlug":"scissors-jack","content":[{"source":"luna","entries":[{"id":"u3bb48a285cbafaf0.-3bc55cee.14d9e768287.-5354","type":"normal","entry":"scissors jack","entrySyllabified":"scissors jack","entryVariants":["or scissor jack "],"homograph":null,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","postdefinitionContent":"","definition":"a horizontal screw that raises or lowers a hinged, diamond-shaped frame.","synonyms":"","antonyms":"","cites":[]}],"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":""}],"origin":null,"originData":null,"supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"variantSpellings":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"confusables":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":136386,"index-rank-01":["scissors jack"],"index-rank-02":["scissor jack"],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":["scissors jack's","scissors jacks","scissors jacks'"],"index-rank-05":["scissor jack's","scissor jacks","scissor jacks'"],"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":"417","complexityScore":0.3808600727158076,"gradeLevel":"middle_school","tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"scissors-jack"},"requestId":"MXyMZ50-qa2YP3SLFdswU","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":[],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"scissors-jack"},"requestId":"c6znm2LutvHgt_vDjfs2a","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

scissors jack

noun

Word of the Day