n. pl. por·phy·ries 1. Any of various varieties of reddish-purple rock, often containing light-colored crystals, used as a decorative stone. 2. Geology Rock containing relatively large conspicuous crystals, especially of feldspar, in a fine-grained igneous matrix. [Middle English porphiri, porfurie, purplish-red porphyry, from Old French porfire, from Italian porfiro, from Medieval Latin porphyrium, from Latin porphyrītēs, from Greek porphurītēs, from porphurā, mollusk yielding Tyrian purple, Tyrian purple garment; see PURPLE.] |
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