Definition of petrify
petrified
;petrifying
transitive verb
1 : to convert (organic matter) into stone or a substance of stony hardness by the infiltration of water and the deposition of dissolved mineral matter
2 : to make rigid or inert like stone:a : to make lifeless or inactive : deaden slogans are apt to petrify a man's thinking — Saturday Rev.b : to confound with fear, amazement, or awe a novel about an airline pilot that will petrify you — Martin Levin
intransitive verb
: to become stone or of stony hardness or rigidity
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Examples of petrify in a Sentence
the processes that petrify wood
The dead tree petrified into stone.
Origin and Etymology of petrify
Middle French petrifier, from petr- + -ifier -ify
First Known Use: 15th century
PETRIFY Defined for English Language Learners
petrify
playDefinition of petrify for English Language Learners
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: to make (someone) very afraid
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: to slowly change (something, such as wood) into stone or a substance like stone over a very long period of time
PETRIFY Defined for Kids
petrify
playDefinition of petrify for Students
petrified
;petrifying
1 : to change plant or animal matter into stone or something like stone petrified wood
2 : to frighten very much Lightning petrifies me.
Medical Dictionary
petrify
playMedical Definition of petrify
petrified
;petrifying
transitive verb
: to convert (organic matter) into stone or a stony substanceintransitive verb
: to become stone or like stone
Learn More about petrify
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See words that rhyme with petrify Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for petrify Spanish Central: Translation of petrify Nglish: Translation of petrify for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of petrify for Arabic speakers
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