petrification
Significado: The process by which organic material is turned to stone through the replacement of its original substance with minerals, or a state of extreme fear that renders someone unable to move.
Petrification is a specific form of fossilisation in which the original organic structure is gradually replaced by minerals such as silica, preserving fine cellular detail. 'Petrified wood,' 'petrified forest,' and 'process of petrification' are standard geological collocations. The figurative sense — being 'petrified with fear' — draws on the Greek myth of Medusa, whose gaze turned people to stone. Both senses convey the idea of something becoming rigid, immobile, and stone-like.
Ejemplos
- The Petrified Forest in Arizona contains trees that underwent petrification over two hundred million years ago. 亚利桑那州的石化森林保存着两亿多年前经历石化过程的树木。El Bosque Petrificado de Arizona contiene árboles que experimentaron la petrificación hace más de doscientos millones de años.アリゾナ州の石化林には、2億年以上前に石化した樹木が保存されている。애리조나주의 화석림에는 2억 년 이상 전에 석화된 나무들이 보존되어 있다.
- Petrification preserves organic structures in extraordinary detail, allowing scientists to study ancient cell structures. 石化作用以极其精细的方式保存有机结构,使科学家能够研究古代的细胞结构。La petrificación preserva las estructuras orgánicas con un detalle extraordinario, lo que permite a los científicos estudiar estructuras celulares antiguas.石化作用は有機構造を驚くほど精細に保存するため、科学者は古代の細胞構造を研究することができる。석화 작용은 유기 구조를 놀라울 정도로 정밀하게 보존하여 과학자들이 고대 세포 구조를 연구할 수 있게 해준다.
- The children stood in petrification as the enormous wave crashed against the harbour wall. 当巨浪猛烈撞击海堤时,孩子们惊恐得呆若木鸡。Los niños se quedaron petrificados cuando la enorme ola se estrelló contra el muro del puerto.巨大な波が防波堤に打ちつけたとき、子どもたちは恐怖で石のように固まった。거대한 파도가 방파제에 부딪쳤을 때, 아이들은 공포에 질려 돌처럼 굳어 서 있었다.
Pronunciación
Guía de uso
Contexto: academic, literary, professional
Tono: neutral
Origen e historia
From Latin petra (rock, stone), from Greek petros (stone) + -fication (making). The geological sense developed alongside the study of fossils in the 17th century; the figurative sense of paralysing fear echoes the classical myth of Medusa.
Contexto cultural
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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