calcify

[ kal-suh-fahy ]
See synonyms for calcify on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with or without object),cal·ci·fied, cal·ci·fy·ing.
  1. Physiology. to make or become calcareous or bony; harden by the deposit of calcium salts.

  2. Geology. to harden by deposition of calcium carbonate.

  1. to make or become rigid or intransigent, as in a political position.

Origin of calcify

1
First recorded in 1830–40; calci- + -fy

Other words from calcify

  • non·cal·ci·fied, adjective
  • un·cal·ci·fied, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use calcify in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for calcify

calcify

/ (ˈkælsɪˌfaɪ) /


verb-fies, -fying or -fied
  1. to convert or be converted into lime

  2. to harden or become hardened by impregnation with calcium salts

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