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petrifaction

[ pe-truh-fak-shuh n ]
/ ˌpɛ trəˈfæk ʃən /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR petrifaction ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or process of petrifying; the state of being petrified.
something petrified.

RELATED WORDS

coma, trance, slumber, rapture, reverie, stupor, unconsciousness, specimen, relic, skeleton, trace, inertness, lethargy, sleep, languor, anesthesia, swoon, stupefaction, torpor, insensibility

Nearby words

petri dish, petri-, petrichor, petrie, petrie, sir william matthew flinders, petrifaction, petrificant, petrification, petrified, petrified forest, petrified forest national park
Also pet·ri·fi·ca·tion [pe-truh-fi-key-shuh n] /ˌpɛ trə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən/.

Origin of petrifaction

1640–50; petri- + -faction < Latin factiōn- (stem of factiō) a making. See petrify, faction1
Related formspet·ri·fac·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for petrifaction

British Dictionary definitions for petrifaction

petrifaction

petrification (ˌpɛtrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən)

/ (ˌpɛtrɪˈfækʃən) /

noun

the act or process of forming petrified organic material
the state of being petrified
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for petrifaction

petrifaction

n.

early 15c., "action or process of hardening," from petrify on model of satisfaction, etc.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for petrifaction

petrifaction

[ pĕt′rə-făk′shən ]

n.

A process of fossilization in which dissolved minerals replace organic matter.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for petrifaction

petrifaction

[ pĕt′rə-făk′shən ]

The process by which organic materials are turned into rock. Petrifaction occurs when water that is rich with inorganic minerals, such as calcium carbonate or silica, passes slowly through organic matter, such as wood or bone, replacing its cellular structure with minerals.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.