About The Word Porphyry

Bay Area Crosswords

Learn about the word Porphyry to help solve your crossword puzzle. Discover Porphyry definitions and meaning, origins, synonyms, related terms and more at the free Crossword Dictionary.

Porphyry

Porphyry Meaning & Definition
Porphyry Definition And Meaning

What's The Definition Of Porphyry?

[n] any igneous rock with crystals embedded in a finer groundmass of minerals

Synonyms | Synonyms for Porphyry: porphyritic rock

Related Terms | Find terms related to Porphyry:

See Also | groundmass | igneous rock

Porphyry In Webster's Dictionary

\Por"phy*ry\, n.; pl. {Porphyries}. [F. porphyre, L. porphyrites, fr. Gr. ? like purple, fr. ? purple. See {Purple}.] (Geol.) A term used somewhat loosely to designate a rock consisting of a fine-grained base (usually feldspathic) through which crystals, as of feldspar or quartz, are disseminated. There are red, purple, and green varieties, which are highly esteemed as marbles. {Porphyry shell} (Zo["o]l.), a handsome marine gastropod shell ({Oliva porphyria}), having a dark red or brown polished surface, marked with light spots, like porphyry.

More Crossword Puzzle Words

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Cross Word Of The Day

  • Clintonia uniflora ‐ plant with 1 or 2 white starlike flowers on short leafless stalks;…
  • Indecisive ‐ not definitely settling something; "a long and indecisive war"…
  • Flue stop ‐ an organ stop with the tone of a…
  • Alaska king crab ‐ large edible crab of North Pacific waters especially along the…
  • Sensitive ‐ used officially of classified information or matters affecting…
  • Beleaguer ‐ surround so as to force to give up; "The Turks besieged Vienna"…
  • Halifax ‐ provincial capital and largest city of…
  • Laparoscopy ‐ laparotomy performed with a laparoscope that makes a small incision…
  • Annelidan ‐ (zoology) relating to or belonging to or characteristic of any…
  • Phyllo ‐ tissue thin sheets of pastry used especially in…