pet·ri·fy 
/ˈpɛtrəˌfaɪ/ verb
pet·ri·fies; pet·ri·fied; pet·ri·fy·ing /ˈpɛtrəˌfaɪ/ verb 1 [+ obj] : to make (someone) very afraid
▪ It petrifies [=terrifies] me to think of how close we came to dying. 2 technical : to slowly change (something, such as wood) into stone or a substance like stone over a very long period of time [+ obj] ▪ the processes that petrify wood [no obj] ▪ The dead tree petrified into stone.
▪ It petrifies [=terrifies] me to think of how close we came to dying.
