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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And one of his closest political allies had told him of remote Fijian sea caves filled with Hebrew petroglyphs. Pete McKenzie, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025 Hidden in this ancient landscape are Bronze Age petroglyphs and a geological and paleontological history even older. Chloe Berge, Outside Online, 17 June 2025 These lands hold the long arc of the story of humankind, etched in petroglyphs on desert walls and handed down in the creation stories of Indigenous peoples that have stewarded them since time immemorial. Tracy Stone-Manning, Denver Post, 7 May 2025 Other outdoor options include hot air balloon rides, paddling a kayak down the Verde River or visiting one of the ancient sandstone cliff dwellings and checking out the petroglyphs at Palatki, Honanki or Crane Heritage sites. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 27 June 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 Jul. 2025.

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