1VERB 使吓呆;使惊呆 If something petrifies you, it makes you feel very frightened. 使吓呆;使惊呆
Prison petrifies me and I don't want to go there. [VERB noun]
监狱太可怕了,我不想去那里。
petrifying
I found the climb absolutely petrifying.
我觉得这次爬山太吓人了。
2V-ERG (使)停止变化;(使)停止发展 If something such as a society or institution petrifies, or if something petrifies it, it stops changing and developing. (使)停止变化;(使)停止发展 [formal] [Also VERB]
...the fear that a political deadlock may petrify economic initiatives. [VERB noun]