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- Dictionarypet·ri·fy/ˈpetrəˌfī/
verb
- 1. change (organic matter) into a stony concretion by encrusting or replacing its original substance with a calcareous, siliceous, or other mineral deposit.
- 2. make (someone) so frightened that they are unable to move: "his icy controlled quietness petrified her"
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The meaning of PETRIFY is to convert (organic matter) into stone or a substance of stony hardness by the infiltration of water and the deposition of dissolved mineral matter. How to use petrify in a sentence.
PETRIFY definition: 1. to frighten someone a lot, especially so that they are unable to move or speak: 2. If dead…. Learn more.
Definition of petrify verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
to convert into stone or a stony substance. to benumb or paralyze with astonishment, horror, or other strong emotion: I was petrified with fear. Synonyms: daze, dumbfound, immobilize. to make rigid or inert; harden; deaden: The tragedy in his life petrified his emotions.
1. verb. If something petrifies you, it makes you feel very frightened. Prison petrifies me and I don't want to go there. [VERB noun] petrifying adjective. I found the climb absolutely petrifying. 2. ergative verb. If something such as a society or institution petrifies, or if something petrifies it, it stops changing and developing. [formal]
If you scare someone so much they can't move, you petrify them. Petrify is to make something like a stone or to literally turn to stone.
1. To convert (wood or other organic matter) into a stony replica by petrifaction. 2. To cause to lose vitality or become impervious to change; deaden: a routine that petrified her thinking. 3. To stun or paralyze with terror; daze.
to cause to be in a state of shock, as from fear or terror: [~ + object] She refused to climb up the tree because heights petrify her. to (cause to) be hardened, deadened, or unwilling to change: [ ~ + object ] The tragedy petrified his emotions.
PETRIFY meaning: 1 : to make (someone) very afraid; 2 : to slowly change (something, such as wood) into stone or a substance like stone over a very long period of time.
Sep 27, 2024 · petrify (third-person singular simple present petrifies, present participle petrifying, simple past and past participle petrified) To turn to stone: to harden organic matter by permeating with water and depositing dissolved minerals.