n.
Pronunciation: ' po ̇ r-f( ə -)r ē
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ries
Etymology: Middle English porphiri, from Medieval Latin porphyrium, alteration of Latin porphyrites, from Greek porphyrit ē s ( lithos ), literally, stone like Tyrian purple, from porphyra purple
Date: 15th century
1 : a rock consisting of feldspar crystals embedded in a compact dark red or purple groundmass
2 : an igneous rock of porphyritic texture