Main Entry:

por·phy·ry

Pronunciation:

\ˈpȯr-f(ə-)rē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural por·phy·ries

Etymology:

Middle English porphiri, from Medieval Latin porphyrium, alteration of Latin porphyrites, from Greek porphyritēs (lithos), literally, stone like Tyrian purple, from porphyra purple

Date:

15th century

1 : a rock consisting of feldspar crystals embedded in a compact dark red or purple groundmass 2 : an igneous rock of porphyritic texture