fossilize

verb

Meaning

Undergo a process where organic material is replaced by minerals, turning into a fossil, or metaphorically become rigid and unchanging.

Examples

Soft tissues rarely fossilize because they decay before the mineral replacement process can begin.
His outdated management style has begun to fossilize, making it difficult for the company to innovate.

Synonyms: harden, petrify, ossify, calcify

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fossilize

verb

Pronunciation: ˈfɒs.ɪ.laɪz

Definition

Undergo a process where organic material is replaced by minerals, turning into a fossil, or metaphorically become rigid and unchanging.

Examples

Soft tissues rarely fossilize because they decay before the mineral replacement process can begin.
His outdated management style has begun to fossilize, making it difficult for the company to innovate.

How to Use fossilize

fossilize into (prepositional phrase): transform into a specific state or substance — "The organic remains eventually fossilized into solid rock."
be fossilized (collocation): passive state of having completed the transformation — "These specimens were fossilized during the Jurassic period."

Synonyms of fossilize

Words with a similar meaning to fossilize:

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