petrophilic

English

Etymology

From petro- +‎ -philic.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌpɛtɹəˈfɪlɪk/

Adjective

petrophilic (comparative more petrophilic, superlative most petrophilic)

  1. (biology) Thriving in rocky environments.
  2. (mycology) Able to digest petroleum byproducts.
    • 2020, Merlin Sheldrake, Entangled Life, page 207:
      One of the larger organisations, CoRenewal, has been conducting reserach into the ability of fungi to detoxify the poisonous byproducts of crude oil estraction left behind by Chevron's twenty-six-year operation in the Ecuadorian Amazon. In partnership with Ecuador's National Institute for Agricultural Research, scientists are doing basic research into local 'petrophilic' fungal strains and training local communities in mycological techniques.

Translations