porphyritic
Americanadjective
adjective
-
(of rocks) having large crystals in a fine groundmass of minerals
-
consisting of porphyry
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of porphyritic
1375–1425; late Middle English porphiritike < Medieval Latin porphyrīticus < Greek porphyrītikós of porphyry; see -ic
Vocabulary lists containing porphyritic
Earth Science - Middle School
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Earth Science - High School
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"Building the Transcontinental Railroad," Vocabulary from the history writing
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When porphyritic, it often has either olivine or plagioclase phenocrysts.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017
This is not to be confused with the igneous texture porphyritic, although the name is derived from the porphyritic texture that is nearly always present in the igneous rocks in a porphyry deposit.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017
You can find dwarfs, hobbits, dragons and wizards in the towers created by porphyritic lava flows.
From Washington Times • Aug. 8, 2015
They are called “porphyry” because upper crustal stocks are typically porphyritic in texture, the result of a two-stage cooling process.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015
Of its original nature there is some doubt, but its chemical composition and the occasional presence of porphyritic crystals indicate that it has affinities to the fine-grained acid intrusive rocks.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 7 "Gyantse" to "Hallel" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
