ossify

intransitive-verb
UK: /ˈɒs.ɪ.faɪ/
US: /ˈɑː.sə.faɪ/

  1. To change into bone or a bony substance.

    1. The cartilage in the body begins to ossify around the second trimester.
    2. As people age, soft tissues can ossify, leading to stiffness and reduced flexibility.

  2. To become rigid or inflexible in attitude, habit, or belief.

    1. Traditions can ossify over time if they are not adapted to changing circumstances.
    2. If we're not careful, our opinions can ossify, making it difficult to accept new ideas.

Synonyms

harden rigidify solidify calcify fossilize petrify set
ossify transitive-verb

  1. To turn something into bone or a bony substance.

    1. Calcium helps ossify bones.
    2. The body will ossify the fracture to heal.

  2. To cause to become rigid or inflexible.

    1. Years of bureaucracy can ossify a system, making it slow to respond to change.
    2. They are in danger of ossifying the political system with their inflexibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "ossify" in English means: To change into bone or a bony substance., To become rigid or inflexible in attitude, habit, or belief..

The phonetic transcription of "ossify" is /ˈɒs.ɪ.faɪ/ in British English and /ˈɑː.sə.faɪ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "ossify": harden, rigidify, solidify, calcify, fossilize, petrify, set.

Example usage of "ossify": "The cartilage in the body begins to ossify around the second trimester.". More examples on the page.