*petro*

prop. n. A genus of perennial tussock-forming rock plants; native to the Pyrenees and mountains of Northern Spain; it is similar to and sometimes placed in the genus Lychnis.
Syn. -- genus Petrocoptis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ NL., fr. Gr. pe`tra a rock + galh^ a weasel. ] (Zool.) Any Australian kangaroo of the genus Petrogale, as the rock wallaby (Petrogale penicillata). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A carving or drawing on rock, especially one made by prehistoric humans; called also a petrograph. [ PJC ]

a. Of or pertaining to petroglyphs or petroglyphy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Petro + Gr. gly`fein to carve. ] The art or operation of carving figures or inscriptions on rock or stone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A carving or drawing on rock, especially one made by prehistoric humans; called also a petrograph. [ PJC ]

{ } a. Pertaining to petrography. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Petro + -graphy. ] 1. The art of writing on stone. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The scientific description of rocks; that department of science which investigates the constitution of rocks; petrology. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Petro + hyoid. ] (Anat.) Pertaining to the petrous, or periotic, portion of the skull and the hyoid arch; as, the petrohyoid muscles of the frog. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Petroleum. [ Archaic and R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Same as gasoline; -- British usage. [ British ] [ PJC ]

n. (Chem. & Pharm.) A semisolid unctuous substance, neutral, and without taste or odor, derived from petroleum by distilling off the lighter portions and purifying the residue. It is a yellowish, fatlike mass, transparent in thin layers, and somewhat fluorescent. It is used as a bland protective dressing, and as a substitute for fatty materials in ointments. U. S. Pharm. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Petrolatum is the official name for the purified product. Cosmoline and vaseline are commercial names for substances essentially the same, but differing slightly in appearance and consistency or fusibility. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL., fr. L. petra a rock + oleum oil: cf. F. pétrole. Cf. Petrify, and Oil. ] Rock oil, mineral oil, or natural oil, a dark brown or greenish inflammable liquid, which, at certain points, exists in the upper strata of the earth, from whence it is pumped, or forced by pressure of the gas attending it. It consists of a complex mixture of various hydrocarbons, largely of the methane series, but may vary much in appearance, composition, and properties. It is refined by distillation, and the products include kerosene, benzine, gasoline, paraffin, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Petroleum spirit, a volatile liquid obtained in the distillation of crude petroleum at a temperature of 170° Fahr., or below. The term is rather loosely applied to a considerable range of products, including benzine and ligroin. The terms petroleum ether, and naphtha, are sometimes applied to the still more volatile products, including rhigolene, gasoline, cymogene, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖n. m. ‖n. f. } [ F. ] One who makes use of petroleum for incendiary purposes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A paraffin obtained from petroleum from Rangoon in India, and practically identical with ordinary paraffin. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to petrology. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. According to petrology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who is versed in petrology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Petro + -logy. ] 1. The department of science which is concerned with the mineralogical and chemical composition of rocks, and with their classification: lithology. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A treatise on petrology. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Petro + mastoid. ] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the petrous and mastoid parts of the temporal bone; periotic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Petro + Gr. my`zein to suck in. ] (Zool.) A lamprey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. petrinal, fr. peitrine, petrine, the breast, F. poitrine; so called because it was placed against the breast in order to fire. See Poitrel. ] A sort of hand cannon, or portable firearm, used in France in the 15th century. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Petrous. ] (Anat.) (a) Hard; stony; petrous; as, the petrosal bone; petrosal part of the temporal bone. (b) Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the petrous, or petrosal, bone, or the corresponding part of the temporal bone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Petrosal bone (Anat.), a bone corresponding to the petrous portion of the temporal bone of man; or one forming more or less of the periotic capsule. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Anat.) (a) A petrosal bone. (b) The auditory capsule. Owen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Petro + silex. ] (Min.) Felsite. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Containing, or consisting of, petrosilex. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Petro + stearine. ] A solid unctuous material, of which candles are made. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. petrosus, fr. petra a stone. ] 1. Like stone; hard; stony; rocky; as, the petrous part of the temporal bone. Hooper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) Same as Petrosal. [ 1913 Webster ]