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ossify

Syllabification: (os·si·fy)
Pronunciation: /ˈäsəˌfī/

Definition of ossify

verb (ossifies, ossifying, ossified)

[no object]
  • 1turn into bone or bony tissue:these tracheal cartilages may ossify
  • 2 (often as adjective ossified) cease developing; be stagnant or rigid:ossified political institutions

Derivatives

ossification

Pronunciation: /ˌäsəfiˈkāSHən/

noun

Origin:

early 18th century: from French ossifier, from Latin os, oss- 'bone'

ossify in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of ossify in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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