o
ssi
fy
Third Person
ossifies
Present Participle
ossifying
Past Tense
ossified
Past Participle
ossified
1
to harden and turn into bone
- Over time, the cartilage will ossify, becoming a solid bone structure.
- As the child grows, the soft spots in their skull will gradually ossify.
- The fractured bone began to ossify, gradually healing and regaining its strength.
- The x-ray revealed that the damaged cartilage had started to ossify.
- In older individuals, the spine may begin to ossify, leading to stiffness and reduced flexibility.
2
to cause something, such as an idea, system, habit, etc. to become fixed and opposed to change
- They feared that the new regulations would ossify the current system beyond repair.
- Her habits had ossified into a strict routine, leaving no room for flexibility.
- The company’s policies had become ossified, hindering progress and adaptation.
- The traditions in the community had ossified, making any change almost impossible.
- The legal system was criticized for its ossified practices that failed to address modern issues.