Meanings
plural petrifications
- countableuncountableTurning to stone: the process of replacement of the organic residues of plants (and animals) with insoluble salts, with the original shape and topography being retained.
- countablefigurativelyuncountableobduracy; callousness.
a Petrification or Mortification of the Mind
1681, Henry Hallywell, Melampronoea
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.
Origin
- Middle Frenchpétrifier
- Frenchpétrification
- Englishpetrification
From French pétrification, from Middle French pétrifier + -ation.
More words from French, Middle French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek πώρωσις
- πώρωσις (pṓrōsis)process of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
Catalan petrificació
- petrificacióprocess of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
Dutch verstening
- versteningprocess of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
French pétrification
- pétrificationprocess of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
German Versteinerung, Petrifikation
- Versteinerungprocess of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
- Petrifikationprocess of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
Italian pietrificazione
- pietrificazioneprocess of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
Māori whakatokatanga
- whakatokatangaprocess of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
Polish petryfikacja
- petryfikacjaprocess of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
Portuguese petrificação
- petrificaçãoprocess of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
Spanish petrificación, silicatización
- petrificaciónprocess of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
- silicatizaciónprocess of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
Welsh caregiad
- caregiadprocess of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with petrification
Cite this entry
petrification. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petrification
“petrification.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petrification. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “petrification,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/petrification.
Source: petrification on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.