New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
Ossify — Os si*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ossified}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Ossifying}.] [L. os, ossis, bone + fy: cf. F. ossifier. See {Osseous}.] 1. (Physiol.) To form into bone; to change from a soft animal substance into bone, as by the deposition of lime… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Ossify — Os si*fy, v. i. (Physiol.) To become bone; to change from a soft tissue to a hard bony tissue. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
ossify — 1713, to turn into bone, from L. os (gen. ossis) bone (see OSSEOUS (Cf. osseous)) + FY (Cf. fy). Figurative sense is from 1858. Related: Ossified … Etymology dictionary
ossify — [v] become hard from aging congeal, fossilize, freeze, harden, indurate, petrify, solidify, stiffen, thicken, turn to bone; concept 469 Ant. melt, soften … New thesaurus
ossify — ► VERB (ossifies, ossified) 1) turn into bone or bony tissue. 2) cease developing; become inflexible. DERIVATIVES ossification noun. ORIGIN from Latin os bone … English terms dictionary
ossify — [äs′ə fī΄] vt., vi. ossified, ossifying [< L os (gen. ossis), a bone (< IE base * ost > Sans ásthi, Gr osteon, bone) + FY] 1. to change or develop into bone 2. to settle or fix rigidly in a practice, custom, attitude, etc. ossification n … English World dictionary
ossify — UK [ˈɒsɪfaɪ] / US [ˈɑsɪˌfaɪ] verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms ossify : present tense I/you/we/they ossify he/she/it ossifies present participle ossifying past tense ossified past participle ossified 1) formal if a belief, idea,… … English dictionary
ossify — ossifier, n. /os euh fuy /, v., ossified, ossifying. v.t. 1. to convert into or cause to harden like bone. v.i. 2. to become bone or harden like bone. 3. to become rigid or inflexible in habits, attitudes, opinions, etc.: a young man who began to … Universalium
ossify — verb /ˈɒs.ɪ.faɪ,ˈɑ.sə.faɪ/ a) To transform (or cause to transform) from a softer animal substance into bone; particularly the processes of growth in humans and animals. , nor do all bones of the same skeleton ossify during the samе period of time … Wiktionary
Ossify — To make into bone; to convert cartilage or fibrous tissue into bone. The skeleton initially consists mainly of cartilage which is gradually transformed into bone during development. This bone building process is termed ossification. Bone is… … Medical dictionary
ossify — [[t]ɒ̱sɪfaɪ[/t]] ossifies, ossifying, ossified V ERG (disapproval) If an idea, system, or organization ossifies or if something ossifies it, it becomes fixed and difficult to change. [FORMAL] [V n] It reckons that rationing would ossify the farm… … English dictionary
