Ossify: meaning, definitions and examples
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ossify
[ ˈɒsɪfaɪ ]
biological process
To ossify means to turn into bone or to become bony. This process is part of normal skeletal development and happens during the growth of an organism. Ossification can occur naturally as part of aging or it can be induced by certain circumstances, such as injury. In broader contexts, ossify can also refer to becoming rigid or inflexible in behavior or style, particularly in societal structures or ideas.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The cartilage will ossify into bone as the child grows.
- Their attitudes towards change had ossified over the years.
- The scientist studied how certain diseases can cause bones to ossify abnormally.
figurative use
In a figurative sense, to ossify can mean to make something increasingly rigid or unchanging. When a system or method ossifies, it may become less adaptable and more resistant to new ideas, often leading to stagnation.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The bureaucratic process began to ossify, making it difficult to implement new strategies.
- Their approach to teaching has ossified, losing touch with modern educational practices.
Translations
Translations of the word "ossify" in other languages:
🇵🇹 ossificar
🇮🇳 हड्डी बनाना
🇩🇪 verknöchern
🇮🇩 mengubah menjadi tulang
🇺🇦 осифікувати
🇵🇱 kostnieć
🇯🇵 骨化する
🇫🇷 ossifier
🇪🇸 osificar
🇹🇷 kemikleştirmek
🇰🇷 골화하다
🇸🇦 تحجر
🇨🇿 kostnatět
🇸🇰 kostnatie
🇨🇳 骨化
🇸🇮 kostniti
🇮🇸 beina
🇰🇿 сүйекке айналдыру
🇬🇪 კბილში გადაქცევა
🇦🇿 sümükləşmək
🇲🇽 osificar
Word origin
The term 'ossify' originates from the Latin word 'ossificare', which means 'to turn into bone'. The root 'os' translates to 'bone', with '-ficare' meaning 'to make' or 'to do'. This word was incorporated into the English language in the early 19th century, reflecting medical and biological contexts focused on skeletal development. Over time, the usage of 'ossify' expanded into metaphorical contexts, where it describes the process of becoming inflexible or rigid in ideas or practices, mirroring the physical process of bone formation.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #37,240, 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.
- ...
- 37237 overvalue
- 37238 rootlet
- 37239 unharnessed
- 37240 ossify
- 37241 dithered
- 37242 scrounging
- 37243 ambulate
- ...