porphyry
noun
por·phy·ry
ˈpȯr-f(ə-)rē 
plural porphyries
1
: a rock consisting of feldspar crystals embedded in a compact dark red or purple groundmass
2
: an igneous rock of porphyritic texture
Examples of porphyry in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In theory, this could help spotlight Alto Adige’s remarkable vineyard diversity - granite slopes, volcanic porphyry, glacial moraines - all compressed into just under 6,000 hectares of fragmented vineyards, layered across extreme altitudes.
—
Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
Some parts appear to be imitating high-status wall tiles, including red porphyry, a type of volcanic stone found in Egypt, and giallo antico, a yellowish marble found in Africa.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2025
Some fragments even mimic high-status wall tiles, such as red Egyptian porphyry and African giallo antico marble, styles also seen in Londinium north of the River Thames, the southern English town of Colchester, and Pompeii in Italy.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 20 June 2025
The porphyries intrude sediments (sandstone, limestone, and shale) which show contact metasomatism around dykes and intrusive stocks.
—Kansas City Star, 22 May 2024
Economic metal concentrations in B.C. style porphyries are typically located adjacent to regional-scale unconformities.
—Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024
According to Simeoni, it was originally created by workmen who came all the way from Italy and collaborated with British carvers, using a combination of materials both local and transported all the way from Rome, including purple and green porphyry and Purbeck marble.
—Kelly Faircloth, Curbed, 5 May 2023
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Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
Some parts appear to be imitating high-status wall tiles, including red porphyry, a type of volcanic stone found in Egypt, and giallo antico, a yellowish marble found in Africa.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2025
Some fragments even mimic high-status wall tiles, such as red Egyptian porphyry and African giallo antico marble, styles also seen in Londinium north of the River Thames, the southern English town of Colchester, and Pompeii in Italy.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 20 June 2025
The porphyries intrude sediments (sandstone, limestone, and shale) which show contact metasomatism around dykes and intrusive stocks.
—Kansas City Star, 22 May 2024
Economic metal concentrations in B.C. style porphyries are typically located adjacent to regional-scale unconformities.
—Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024
According to Simeoni, it was originally created by workmen who came all the way from Italy and collaborated with British carvers, using a combination of materials both local and transported all the way from Rome, including purple and green porphyry and Purbeck marble.
—Kelly Faircloth, Curbed, 5 May 2023
Cite this Entry
“Porphyry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porphyry. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
porphyry
noun
por·phy·ry
ˈpȯr-f(ə-)rē
plural porphyries
: a rock consisting of feldspar crystals set firmly in a compact dark red or purple base
porphyritic
adjective
ˌpȯr-fə-ˈrit-ik
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