fossilize

fossilize
[[t]fɒ̱sɪlaɪz[/t]]
fossilizes, fossilizing, fossilized
(in BRIT, also use fossilise)
1) V-ERG If the remains of an animal or plant fossilize or are fossilized, they become hard and form fossils, instead of decaying completely.

The most important parts, the flowers, rarely fossilise...

[be V-ed] The survival of the proteins depends on the way in which bones are fossilised.

[V-ed] ...fossilized dinosaur bones.

2) V-ERG (disapproval) If you say that ideas, attitudes, or ways of behaving have fossilized or have been fossilized, you are criticizing the fact that they are fixed and unlikely to change, in spite of changing situations or circumstances.

[V n] What they seem to want to do in fact is fossilize the particular environment in which people live and work...

Needs change while policies fossilize.

Derived words:
fossilized ADJ-GRADED

Efforts have been made to breathe some new life into these fossilized organisations.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fossilize — Fos sil*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fossilized}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fossilizing}.] [Cf. F. fossiliser.] 1. To convert into a fossil; to petrify; as, to fossilize bones or wood. [1913 Webster] 2. To cause to become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, as by… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fossilize — Fos sil*ize, v. i. 1. To become fossil. [1913 Webster] 2. To become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, beyond the influence of change or progress. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fossilize — 1794, from FOSSIL (Cf. fossil) + IZE (Cf. ize). Figurative use from 1856. Related: Fossilized; fossilizing …   Etymology dictionary

  • fossilize — (Amer.) fos·sil·ize || fÉ‘sɪlaɪz / fÉ’s v. change into a fossil, petrify; be petrified, become a fossil; make outmoded; become old fashioned or outmoded, become unchanging (also fossilise) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • fossilize — [fäs′əl īz΄] vt. fossilized, fossilizing 1. to change into a fossil or fossils; petrify 2. to make out of date, rigid, or incapable of change vi. to become fossilized fossilization n …   English World dictionary

  • fossilize — UK [ˈfɒsəlaɪz] / US [ˈfɑsəlˌaɪz] verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms fossilize : present tense I/you/we/they fossilize he/she/it fossilizes present participle fossilizing past tense fossilized past participle fossilized to become a fossil… …   English dictionary

  • fossilize — fos|sil|ize also fossilise BrE [ˈfɔsılaız US ˈfa: ] v 1.) [usually passive] if people, ideas, systems etc fossilize or are fossilized, they never change or develop, even when there are good reasons why they should change ▪ Most couples, however… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • fossilize — fossil ► NOUN 1) the remains or impression of a prehistoric plant or animal embedded in rock and preserved in petrified form. 2) humorous an antiquated person or thing. DERIVATIVES fossiliferous adjective fossilization (also fossilisation) noun… …   English terms dictionary

  • fossilize — verb ( ized; izing) Date: 1794 transitive verb 1. to convert into a fossil 2. to make outmoded, rigid, or fixed intransitive verb to become changed into a fossil • fossilization noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • fossilize — fossilizable, adj. fossilization, n. /fos euh luyz /, v., fossilized, fossilizing. v.t. 1. Geol. to convert into a fossil; replace organic with mineral substances in the remains of an organism. 2. to change as if into mere lifeless remains or… …   Universalium

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