porphyry
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Porphyry
Etymology
From Old French porfire, from Ancient Greek πορφυρίτης λίθος (porphurítēs líthos, “purple stone”), from πορφύρα (porphúra, “purple-fish, purple dye”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈpɔɹ.fɪ.ɹi/, /ˈpɔɹ.fə.ɹi/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Noun
porphyry (countable and uncountable, plural porphyries)
- (geology) A hard igneous rock consisting of large crystals in a fine-grained matrix.
- A purple-red rock of this kind.
- 1980, Colin Thubron, Seafarers: The Venetians, page 43:
- A quartet of porphyry warriors, locked for all time in stern embrace outside St. Mark's Basilica, were probably carved in the Fourth Century. They are believed to represent the Roman Emperor Diocletian and the three men who held power with him.
- A purple-red rock of this kind.
Derived terms
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