porphyries

Variant of porphyry

porphyry definition

por·phyry (pôr′fə rē)

noun pl. porphyries -·ries

  1. Historical an Egyptian rock with large feldspar crystals contained in a purplish groundmass
  2. any igneous rock with large, distinct crystals, esp. of alkali feldspar, embedded in a fine-grained matrix

Etymology: ME porfirie < OFr porfire < ML porphyreum, altered < L porphyrites < Gr porphyritēs (lithos), lit., purple (stone) < porphyros, purple

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments


Do you have more to add? Sign in to share your linguistic knowledge or observation.

Connect with Facebook