petroglyph

noun

pet·​ro·​glyph ˈpe-trə-ˌglif How to pronounce petroglyph (audio)
: a carving or inscription on a rock

Examples of petroglyph in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Don’t Miss: The nearby Volcanic Tablelands, named for a cataclysmic volcanic eruption 750,000 years ago, draws rock climbers for its fantastic bouldering and desert rats for the austere landscape and petroglyph sites. Jenna Blough, Outside Online, 8 Apr. 2025 The petroglyphs can be found on volcanic tuff formations formed over 760,000 years ago when a large eruption released hot ash that settled over the region. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025 The petroglyphs were carved about 7,000 years ago by the Paiute-Shoshone tribe, the site said. Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 11 Mar. 2025 California’s ancient petroglyphs in the eastern Sierra keep being vandalized. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for petroglyph

Word History

Etymology

petro- + glyph, probably after hieroglyph

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of petroglyph was in 1854

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Cite this Entry

“Petroglyph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petroglyph. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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