petrification

See also: pétrification

English

Etymology

From French pétrification, from Middle French pétrifier + -ation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌpɛtɹɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

petrification (countable and uncountable, plural petrifications)

1. Turning 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.
2. (figurative) obduracy; callousness.
   • 1681, Henry Hallywell, Melampronoea:

     a Petrification or Mortification of the Mind

3. (figurative) Sheer terror; great fright.

Synonyms

• petrifaction

Related terms

• petrified forest
• petrified wood
• petrify

Translations

process of replacing the organic residues with insoluble salts

• Dutch: verstening
• German: Versteinerung (de) f, Petrifikation f
• Greek:

  Ancient: πώρωσις f (pṓrōsis)

• Maori: whakatokatanga
• Occitan: petrificacion
• Polish: petryfikacja (pl) f
• Spanish: petrificación (es) f, silicatización

See also

• crystallization
• vitrification