Ossifying: meaning, definitions and examples

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ossifying

 

[ ɒsɪˈfaɪɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

biological process

Ossifying refers to the process of bone formation, where cartilage is transformed into bone tissue. This process is essential for the growth and development of skeletal systems in vertebrates. Ossification occurs through several mechanisms, including endochondral ossification, which is the process of replacing cartilage with bone, and intramembranous ossification, which forms bone directly from connective tissue. It is a vital process during development, healing of fractures, and maintaining bone density.

Synonyms

calcifying, hardening, ossuary

Examples of usage

  • The ossifying process is crucial during fetal development.
  • Broken bones often go through ossification as they heal.
  • The ossifying tissue can be seen in X-rays of growing children.

Translations

Translations of the word "ossifying" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ossificando

🇮🇳 हड्डी बनाना

🇩🇪 verknöchern

🇮🇩 mengukuhkan

🇺🇦 осифікуючи

🇵🇱 kostniejący

🇯🇵 骨化する

🇫🇷 ossifiant

🇪🇸 ossificante

🇹🇷 kemikleşme

🇰🇷 골화하는

🇸🇦 تصلب العظام

🇨🇿 kostnatění

🇸🇰 kostnatenie

🇨🇳 骨化

🇸🇮 okostenitev

🇮🇸 beinafesting

🇰🇿 сүйекке айналдыру

🇬🇪 ძვლის ფორმირება

🇦🇿 sümükləşmə

🇲🇽 ossificante

Etymology

The term 'ossify' is derived from the Latin word 'ossificare', meaning 'to turn into bone'. It combines 'os', which means 'bone', with the suffix '-ficare', which indicates a process of making or causing to become. The concept of ossification has been recognized since ancient times, particularly in the fields of anatomy and medicine as understanding the process has been crucial for the study of human development and skeletal disorders. The first known use of the term in English can be traced back to the 17th century, with the understanding of its significance evolving as scientific knowledge expanded. Today, ossification is widely studied in developmental biology, orthopedic medicine, and various biological research fields.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,495, 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.