A fossil that has turned to stone As the organic material decays, it is slowly replaced by minerals, leaving a cast in stone of the organism or some of its parts
(3 syl ) The petrified city Ishmonie, in Upper Egypt, is so called from the number of petrified bodies of men, women, and children to be seen there (Latin, petra-fio, to become rock )
If you are petrified, you are extremely frightened, perhaps so frightened that you cannot think or move. I've always been petrified of being alone Most people seem to be petrified of snakes. = terrified
so frightened as to be unable to move; stunned or paralyzed with terror; "petrified with fear"; "she was petrified by the eerie sound"; "too numb with fear to move"