petrifaction
the act or process of petrifying; the state of being petrified.
something petrified.
Origin of petrifaction
1- Also pet·ri·fi·ca·tion [pe-truh-fi-key-shuhn]. /ˌpɛ trə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən/.
Other words from petrifaction
- pet·ri·fac·tive, adjective
Words Nearby petrifaction
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use petrifaction in a sentence
The sand-rock containing this petrifaction is found in a horizontal position, differing only with respect to hardness and color.
Summary Narrative of an Exploratory Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi River, in 1820 | Henry Rowe SchoolcraftThe subjoined petrifaction of a leaf, apparently a species of betula, was obtained on this river.
Summary Narrative of an Exploratory Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi River, in 1820 | Henry Rowe SchoolcraftAccording to the Brooklyn Calvinist, God visits such supplicants with paralysis and petrifaction.
Abraham Lincoln: Was He A Christian? | John B. RemsburgI am ungenerous, unloving,—a very petrifaction of anger and dissatisfaction.
A Noble Name | Claire Von GlmerMany perfect specimens of petrifaction are to be seen on the island and along the river-banks.
The Barren Ground of Northern Canada | Warburton Mayer Pike
British Dictionary definitions for petrifaction
petrification (ˌpɛtrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən)
/ (ˌpɛtrɪˈfækʃən) /
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
Scientific definitions for 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.
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