petrifaction

American  

[pe-truh-fak-shuhn] / ˌpɛ trəˈfæk ʃən /

Also petrification

noun

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

2. something petrified.

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petrifaction British  

/ ˌpɛtrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən, ˌpɛtrɪˈfækʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of forming petrified organic material

2. the state of being petrified

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petrifaction Scientific  

/ pĕt′rə-făk′shən /

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• petrifactive adjective

Etymology

Origin of petrifaction

1640–50; petri- + -faction < Latin factiōn- (stem of factiō ) a making. See petrify, faction ¹

Example Sentences

For another video, Weitz dipped her own hand in porcelain slip and let it dry, creating a crackling petrifaction effect on her skin; her dusty, chalky-looking body then appeared a decaying sculpture itself.

From Los Angeles Times

Most were philosophers, and inquired into the workings of time and memory, natural history, the properties of light, heat, and petrifaction.

From Literature

He observed also other striking similarities between petrifactions and living organisms.

From Scientific American

The odor of sanctity and the form of sound words are no nearer the living spirit than are those petrifactions which present an outline of men, but never again pulsate with life.

From Project Gutenberg

Guizot, it will be remembered, has described her as the stiffest of the stiff, freezing into petrifaction a whole silent circle by her invincible coldness and formality.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• coma
• rapture
• reverie
• stupor
• unconsciousness