-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- scaramouch non sequitur admiral's mast calumny kakistocracy
- ALL
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
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of petrify in a Sentence
the processes that petrify wood
The dead tree petrified into stone.
Recent Examples of petrify from the Web
-
Dean is petrified of heights, so naturally ABC stuck him on a blimp with Rachel for the day.
-
Like many of her classmates, loud, unexpected sounds petrified her.
-
In Austin, Tex., undocumented women working in a laundromat cowered in the back of the room, petrified after seeing a video and a photograph of apprehensions outside a local grocery store and burger joint.
-
Is that what’s happening when Essun notices tooth marks on Alabaster’s crumbly petrifying flesh?
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'petrify'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of petrify
Middle French petrifier, from petr- + -ifier -ify
PETRIFY Defined for English Language Learners
petrify
playDefinition of petrify for English Language Learners
-
: to make (someone) very afraid
-
: 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
-
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
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up petrify? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!