See Also: porphyro-(dictionary)

porphyro- (iou)



porphyro- combining form of Greek porphura purple dye, porphuros purple: see -O-. Before a vowel also porphyr-.
porphyroblast noun (Geology) a larger recrystallized grain occurring in a finer groundmass in a (usu. metamorphic) rock E20.
porphyro'blastic adjective (Geology) marked by the presence of porphyroblasts E20.
porphyroclast noun (Geology) a larger grain remaining in a finer groundmass in a rock which has undergone dynamic metamorphism M20.
porphyro'clastic adjective (Geology) marked by the presence of porphyroclasts E20.
porphy'ropsin noun (Biochemistry) any of a class of light-sensitive pigments in the retinas of freshwater vertebrates analogous to rhodopsin in humans M20.