Petrified

Petrifaction

In geology, petrifaction or petrification is the process by which organic material becomes a fossil through the replacement of the original material and the filling of the original pore spaces with minerals. Petrified wood typifies this process, but all organisms, from bacteria to vertebrates, can become petrified. Petrification takes place through a combination of two similar processes: permineralization and replacement. These processes create replicas of the original specimen that are similar down to the microscopic level.

petrified

Adjective

1. Having undergone the process of petrification (transformation into a stony substance); turned to stone.
2. Extremely afraid.

Verb

1. simple past and past participle of petrify