fossilize
Geology. to convert into a fossil; replace organic with mineral substances in the remains of an organism.
to change as if into mere lifeless remains or traces of the past.
to make rigidly antiquated: Time has fossilized such methods.
to become a fossil or like a fossil: The plant fossilized in comparatively recent geologic time.
Linguistics. (of a linguistic form, feature, rule, etc.) to become permanently established in the interlanguage of a second-language learner in a form that is deviant from the target-language norm and that continues to appear in performance regardless of further exposure to the target language.
Origin of fossilize
1- Also especially British, fos·sil·ise .
Other words from fossilize
- fos·sil·iz·a·ble, adjective
- fos·sil·i·za·tion, noun
- sem·i·fos·sil·ized, adjective
- un·fos·sil·ized, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for fossilize
fossilise
/ (ˈfɒsɪˌlaɪz) /
to convert or be converted into a fossil
to become or cause to become antiquated or inflexible
Derived forms of fossilize
- fossilizable or fossilisable, adjective
- fossilization or fossilisation, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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