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Medical dictionary. 2011.
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 — [[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
