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Definition of "porphyry" [por•phy•ry]

  • Rock containing relatively large conspicuous crystals, especially feldspar, in a fine-grained igneous matrix. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "porphyry" in a sentence
  • "Rhenium is obtained almost exclusively as a by-product of the processing of a special type of copper deposit known as a porphyry copper deposit."
  • "When the Pope leads Mass at the newly complete altar - made, as part of Bonet's design, from a purplish stone called porphyry - 6,500 faithful, including 1,000 priests, will pray with him."
  • "The so-called porphyry copper mines, which now produce more than half the world's copper, are worth looking at in the context of exploitation limits."