petrifaction
[ pe-truh-fak-shuh n ]
/ ˌpɛ trəˈfæk ʃən /
noun
the act or process of petrifying; the state of being petrified.
something petrified.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
petrel, petri dish, petri-, petrichor, petrie, petrifaction, petrified forest, petrified forest national park, petrify, petrillo, petrine
Also pet·ri·fi·ca·tion [pe-truh-fi-key-shuh n] /ˌpɛ trə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən/.
Origin of petrifaction
Related forms
pet·ri·fac·tive, adjectiveDictionary.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
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.