porphyritic

[ pawr-fuh-rit-ik ]

adjective

, Petrology.

1. of, pertaining to, containing, or resembling porphyry, its texture, or its structure.

porphyritic

/ ˌpɔːfɪˈrɪtɪk /

adjective

1. (of rocks) having large crystals in a fine groundmass of minerals
2. consisting of porphyry

Other Words From

• nonpor·phy·ritic adjective
• pseudo·porphy·ritic adjective
• subpor·phy·ritic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of porphyritic¹

1375–1425; late Middle English porphiritike < Medieval Latin porphyrīticus < Greek porphyrītikós of porphyry; -ic

Example Sentences

You can find dwarfs, hobbits, dragons and wizards in the towers created by porphyritic lava flows.

From Washington Times

The dark-coloured porphyritic crystals of basalts are known as basaltic hornblende.

From Project Gutenberg

At Port St. Julian, the country becomes hilly, and continues so as far to the northward as latitude 44�, the rock being porphyritic.

From Project Gutenberg

His marble was perhaps the porphyritic rock which it resembles when wetted by sea moisture.

From Project Gutenberg

Those rocks examined microscopically consist of basalts which are often porphyritic.

From Project Gutenberg