petrifaction
[ pe-truh-fak-shuh n ]
/ ˌpɛ trəˈfæk ʃən /
noun
the act or process of petrifying; the state of being petrified.
something petrified.
Also
pet·ri·fi·ca·tion
[pe-truh-fi-key-shuh n] /ˌpɛ trə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən/.
Origin of petrifaction
OTHER WORDS FROM petrifaction
pet·ri·fac·tive, adjectiveWords nearby petrifaction
petrel,
petri dish,
petri-,
petrichor,
petrie,
petrifaction,
petrified forest,
petrified forest national park,
petrify,
petrillo,
petrine
Example sentences 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
Medical definitions for petrifaction
petrifaction
[ pĕt′rə-făk′shən ]
n.
A process of fossilization in which dissolved minerals replace organic matter.
Scientific 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.