Fossilization: meaning, definitions and examples

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fossilization

 

[ fɑˈsɪləˌzeɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

process of becoming a fossil

Fossilization is the process by which a plant or animal becomes preserved in rock as a fossil. It involves the slow replacement of organic material with minerals over millions of years.

Synonyms

mineralization, petrification

Examples of usage

  • The fossilization of dinosaurs allows us to learn about ancient life forms.
  • Under the right conditions, fossilization can occur relatively quickly.
  • During fossilization, the original organic material is gradually replaced by minerals.
  • The museum has a collection of fossilized remains from various time periods.
  • Scientists study the process of fossilization to understand how fossils are formed.

Translations

Translations of the word "fossilization" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fossilização

🇮🇳 जीवाश्मकरण

🇩🇪 Versteinerung

🇮🇩 fosilisasi

🇺🇦 фосилізація

🇵🇱 fosylizacja

🇯🇵 化石化 (kasekika)

🇫🇷 fossilisation

🇪🇸 fosilización

🇹🇷 fosilleşme

🇰🇷 화석화 (hwaseokhwa)

🇸🇦 تحجر (taḥajur)

🇨🇿 fosilizace

🇸🇰 fosilizácia

🇨🇳 化石化 (huàshíhuà)

🇸🇮 fosilizacija

🇮🇸 steingerving

🇰🇿 қазбалану

🇬🇪 გაქვავება (gaqvaveba)

🇦🇿 fosilləşmə

🇲🇽 fosilización

Word origin

The term 'fossilization' originates from the combination of 'fossil' and the suffix '-ization', which indicates a process or state. Fossils have intrigued humans for centuries, providing valuable insights into the history of life on Earth. The study of fossilization has led to significant discoveries in paleontology and geology, shaping our understanding of evolution and the planet's past.

See also: fossilize, fossilized.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,946, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.