petrification

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

• IPA^(key): /ˌpɛtɹɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

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• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

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.

• petrifaction

• petrified forest
• petrified wood
• petrify

• crystallization
• vitrification