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.

What does it mean if something is petrified?

English Language Learners Definition of petrified

: very afraid or frightened of something : unable to move or act because you are afraid. —used to describe something (such as wood) that has slowly changed into stone or a substance like stone over a very long period of time.

What is an example of petrified?

Petrified is defined as rigid, paralyzed, or turned to stone. An example of petrified is someone unable to move because of fear. An example of petrified is a tree turned to stone after hot lava flowing over it.