ossification

noun

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os·si·fi·ca·tion | \ ˌä-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən

Definition of ossification

1a : the natural process of bone formation

b : the hardening (as of muscular tissue) into a bony substance

2 : a mass or particle of ossified tissue

3 : a tendency toward or state of being molded into a rigid, conventional, sterile, or unimaginative condition

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Examples of ossification in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Tehran hopes for American strategic ossification that could prove politically toxic. — Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, "Iran’s Options in a Showdown with America Are All Bad," 9 Jan. 2020 Meanwhile, our Huffy was in the beginning throes of ossification, its chain and sprockets a rusty mess. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "Does a Rust-Proof Bike Really Exist?," 18 July 2019 Intriguingly, as Laura Geggel of Live Science notes, the patterns of ossification observed in the Las Hoyas fossil are different from those seen in among other baby enantiornithines. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "127-Million-Year-Old Baby Bird Fossil Offers Peek Into Ancient Avian Development," 6 Mar. 2018 Trauma to muscle, such as a fall or injury, may trigger rapid ossification of the area. — Fox News, "Boy with rare 'Stone Man' disorder won't let it stop baseball dreams," 18 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ossification.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

18 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Ossification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ossification. Accessed 26 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for ossification

ossification

noun

os·si·fi·ca·tion | \ ˌäs-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən

Medical Definition of ossification

1a : the process of bone formation usually beginning at particular centers in each prospective bone and involving the activities of special osteoblasts that segregate and deposit inorganic bone substance about themselves — compare calcification sense a

b : an instance of this process

2a : the condition of being altered into a hard bony substance ossification of soft tissue

b : a mass or particle of ossified tissue : a calcareous deposit in the tissues ossifications in the aortic wall