Meanings
plural petrifactions
- countableuncountablePetrification.
- countableuncountableAn object that has become petrified.
An Indian cabinet, consisting of a small but choice collection of petrefactions and fossils, was placed in a recess at the bottom of the room; a few paintings and portraits from the pencil of the most eminent artists adorned the walls.
1838, [Letitia Elizabeth] Landon (indicated as editor), chapter VII, in Duty and Inclination: […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 75 - countableuncountableThe condition of being petrified.
1 more example
The crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there; and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney, as that dull petrifaction of a hearth had never known in Scrooge's time, or Marley's, or for many and many a winter season gone.
1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Three. The Second of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 77
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe process of turning some plant material into stone by infiltration with water carrying mineral particles without changing the original shape
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Bulgarian вкаменяване
- вкаменяване (vkamenjavane)condition of being petrified
German Versteinerung
- Versteinerungcondition of being petrified
Welsh fferdod
- fferdodcondition of being petrified
Cite this entry
petrifaction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petrifaction
“petrifaction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petrifaction. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “petrifaction,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petrifaction.
Source: petrifaction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.