The DICT Development Group
2 definitions found
for porphyry
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Porphyry \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.
[1913 Webster]
Porphyry shell (Zool.), a handsome marine gastropod shell
({Oliva porphyria), having a dark red or brown polished
surface, marked with light spots, like porphyry.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 :
porphyry
n : any igneous rock with crystals embedded in a finer
groundmass of minerals [syn: porphyritic rock]
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