ossify (redirected from ossifications)

os·si·fy  (s-f)

v. os·si·fied, os·si·fy·ing, os·si·fies

v.intr.

1. To change into bone; become bony.

2. To become set in a rigidly conventional pattern: "The central ideas of liberalism have ossified" Jeffrey Hart.

v.tr.

1. To convert (a membrane or cartilage, for example) into bone.

2. To mold into a rigidly conventional pattern.

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[Latin os, oss-, bone; see ost- in Indo-European roots + -fy.]

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os·sific (-sfk) adj.

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ossify

Verb

[-fies, -fying, -fied]

1. to change into bone; harden

2. to become rigid, inflexible, or unprogressive: ossified traditions [Latin os bone + facere to make]

ossification n

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	ossify - become bony; "The tissue ossified" change state, turn - undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; "We turned from Socialism to Capitalism"; "The people turned against the President when he stole the election"
	2.	ossify - make rigid and set into a conventional pattern; "rigidify the training schedule"; "ossified teaching methods"; "slogans petrify our thinking" rigidify, petrify stiffen - make stiff or stiffer; "Stiffen the cream by adding gelatine"
	3.	ossify - cause to become hard and bony; "The disease ossified the tissue" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"