petrology

[ pi-trol-uh-jee ]

noun
  1. the scientific study of rocks, including petrography and petrogenesis.

Origin of petrology

1
First recorded in 1805–15; petro-1 + -logy

Other words from petrology

  • pet·ro·log·ic [pe-truh-loj-ik], /ˌpɛ trəˈlɒdʒ ɪk/, pet·ro·log·i·cal, adjective
  • pet·ro·log·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • pe·trol·o·gist, noun

Words Nearby petrology

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How to use petrology in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for petrology

petrology

/ (pɛˈtrɒlədʒɪ) /


nounplural -gies
  1. the study of the composition, origin, structure, and formation of rocks: Abbreviation: petrol

Derived forms of petrology

  • petrological (ˌpɛtrəˈlɒdʒɪkəl), adjective
  • petrologically, adverb
  • petrologist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for petrology

petrology

[ pə-trŏlə-jē ]


  1. The scientific study of the origin, composition, and structure of rocks.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.