ossify

os·si·fy

verb \ˈä-sə-ˌfī\

os·si·fiedos·si·fy·ing

Definition of OSSIFY

intransitive verb

1

: to change into bone

2

: to become hardened or conventional and opposed to change

transitive verb

1

: to change (as cartilage) into bone

2

: to make rigidly conventional and opposed to change

Examples of OSSIFY

1. The cartilage will ossify, becoming bone.
2. a disease that ossifies the joints

Origin of OSSIFY

Latin oss-, os + English -ify

First Known Use: 1713

Rhymes with OSSIFY

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