petrify

• Verbe signifiant soit causer chez quelqu'un une paralysie par la peur ou l'effroi, soit transformer une matière organique en pierre par un processus naturel.

A verb meaning to cause someone to become paralyzed with fear, or to turn organic material into stone through a natural process.

1. Cause to become stonelike or stiffB2formal

   To make someone or something become rigid, motionless, or dazed, often due to fear or shock.

   Pétrifier

   • The sudden noise petrified the child, who stood frozen in place.
   • She was petrified with fear when she saw the snake.
   • The shocking news petrified the entire audience.

   Synonymesfreezeimmobilizeparalyzestunstupefytransfix

   Antonymesanimateenlivenloosenunfreeze

2. Change into stoneC1formal

   To turn organic matter into stone or a stony substance through a natural process.

   pétrifier (sens propre)

   • Over millions of years, the fallen trees were petrified into stone.
   • The petrified wood in the desert is a popular tourist attraction.
   • Scientists study how minerals petrify ancient bones.

   Synonymescalcifyfossilizelapidifymineralize

3. Make rigid and conventionalC2formal

   To cause something to become fixed, rigid, or set into a conventional pattern, losing flexibility or originality.

   figer dans la convention

   • The strict rules petrified the creative process in the company.
   • Over time, the traditions became petrified and resistant to change.
   • The bureaucracy petrified the organization, making innovation impossible.

   Synonymescongealconventionalizefossilizehardenossifyrigidifysetsolidifystereotypestiffen

   Antonymesanimateenlivenrevitalize