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ossification

noun os·si·fi·ca·tion \ ˌä-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən \
Updated on: 16 Mar 2018
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1 a : 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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Recent Examples of ossification from the Web

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First Known Use of ossification

1671

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Medical Dictionary

ossification

noun os·si·fi·ca·tion \ ˌäs-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən \
1 a : 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 a
b : an instance of this process
2 a : 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
—

ossificatory

\ˈäs-ə-fə-kə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr-; esp British ˌäs-ə-fə-ˈkāt-(ə-)rē\ adjective

Learn More about ossification

  1. See words that rhyme with ossification Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ossification

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