porphyry en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈpɔɹ.fə.ɹi/
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈpɔɹ.fɪ.ɹi/
Etymology
From Old French porfire, from Ancient Greek πορφυρίτης λίθος (porphurítēs líthos, “purple stone”), from πορφύρα (porphúra, “purple-fish, purple dye”).
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) A hard igneous rock consisting of large crystals in a fine-grained matrix.
-
(countable, uncountable) A hard igneous rock consisting of large crystals in a fine-grained matrix. ▸ A purple-red rock of this kind.
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.
1980, Colin Thubron, Seafarers: The Venetians, page 43:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| porphyries | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
porphyrous · porphyry shell · porphyraceous · porphyroid · porphyrogenite → porphyrogenitism · porphyric · porphyrogeniture
Translations (20)
it porfido (crystal) · cmn 斑岩 (crystal) · ja 斑岩 (crystal) · osp arroham (crystal) · tr somaki (crystal) · fr porphyre (crystal) · ur سماق (crystal) · ca pòrfir (crystal) · ru порфир (crystal) · hi सुम्माक़ (crystal) · ko 반암 (crystal) · ka პორფირი (crystal) · ro porfir (crystal) · fr porphyrie (crystal) · el πορφυρίτης (crystal) · id porfiria (crystal) · pt pórfiro (crystal) · fi porfyyri (crystal) · ro porfiră (crystal) · es pórfido (crystal)