1.
[syn: petrifaction, petrification]
2. a rock created by petrifaction; an organic object infiltrated with mineral matter and preserved in its original form;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
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: petrifaction,
petrification]
2: a rock created by petrifaction; an organic object infiltrated
with mineral matter and preserved in its original form