Petrifaction

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Petrifaction \Pet`ri*fac"tion\, n. [See {Petrify}.]
     1. The process of petrifying, or changing into stone;
        conversion of any organic matter (animal or vegetable)
        into stone, or a substance of stony hardness.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. The state or condition of being petrified.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. That which is petrified; popularly, a body incrusted with
        stony matter; an incrustation.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Fig.: Hardness; callousness; obduracy. "Petrifaction of
        the soul." --Cudworth.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  petrifaction
       n 1: the process of turning some plant material into stone by
            infiltration with water carrying mineral particles
            without changing the original shape [syn: {petrification}]
       2: a rock created by petrifaction; an organic object
          infiltrated with mineral matter and preserved in its
          original form