petrifaction

[pe-truh-fak-shuh n]

See more synonyms for petrifaction on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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. 2018

Related Words for petrifaction

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

Examples from the Web for petrifaction

Historical Examples of petrifaction

I stood there like a petrifaction—looking after him, vacant and motionless.
Peter Schlemihl
Adelbert von Chamisso
As for Rollin, he became, and remained for some time, a petrifaction of amazement.
The Red Man's Revenge
R.M. Ballantyne
Something like a petrifaction of her wildest face was shown.
The Amazing Marriage, Complete
George Meredith
Petrifaction awaits all these glowing metaphors of early time.
Demonology and Devil-lore
Moncure Daniel Conway
A petrifaction of a fish's head, for old United States coins.
Harper's Young People, May 17, 1881
Various

British Dictionary definitions for petrifaction

petrifaction

petrification (ˌpɛtrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən)

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

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

petrifaction in Medicine

petrifaction

[pĕt′rə-făk′shən]

A process of fossilization in which dissolved minerals replace organic matter.

petrifaction in Science

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.