silicify

American  

[suh-lis-uh-fahy] / səˈlɪs əˌfaɪ /

verb (used with or without object)

silicified, silicifying

1. to convert or be converted into silica.

---

silicify British  

/ sɪˈlɪsɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to convert or be converted into silica

   silicified wood

---

Other Word Forms

• silicification
  noun
• unsilicified
  adjective

---

Etymology

Origin of silicify

First recorded in 1820–30; silic(a) + -ify

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

silicify silicified

This material, as is well known, is very liable to disintegrate, and the remedy is to silicify it.

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 426 Volume 17, New Series, February 28, 1852 by William Chambers

Fine-grained sandstone, with impressions of leaves, was again observed, and a few pieces of silicified wood.

From Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia : from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, a distance of upwards of 3000 miles, during the years 1844-1845 by Ludwig Leichhardt

These specimens were, in general, silicified: but the outer parts came off in soft flakes resembling rotten bark, being equally pliant, although they felt gritty, like sand, between the teeth.

From Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia by Thomas Mitchell

That was the only natural fuel on Ullr; there was too much silica on Ullr and not enough of anything else; what would be coal-seams on Terra were strata of silicified wood.

From Ullr Uprising by H. Beam Piper

There was too much silica on Uller, and not enough of anything else; what would be coal-seams on Terra were strata of silicified wood.

From Uller Uprising by John D. Clark

As each successive particle of wood was removed by decay, its place was taken by a particle of flint deposited from the surrounding water, till ultimately the entire wood was silicified.

From The Ancient Life History of the Earth A Comprehensive Outline of the Principles and Leading Facts of Palæontological Science by Henry Alleyne Nicholson

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---