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.
[Latin os, oss-, bone; see ost- in Indo-European roots + -fy.]
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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
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| 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"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" |