petri-

American  

1. variant of petro- before elements of Latin origin.

   petrifaction.

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Usage

What does petri- mean? Petri- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “rock” or "stone." It is very occasionally used in scientific terms. Petri- comes from Greek pétra, meaning “rock.” Two Latin translations of pétra are lapis and saxum, both meaning “stone,” which are the roots of terms such as lapis lazuli and saxifrage, respectively. To learn more, check out our entries for both words. What are variants of petri-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, petri- becomes petr-, as in petrous, from the Latin equivalent of the form. Another variant of petri- is petro-. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles on petr- and petro-.