Fossilize

Pronunciation: /ˈfɑːsəˌlaɪz/

Definitions of fossilize

verb to convert into a fossil; to make or become antiquated or rigid

Example Sentences

A1 The dinosaur bones fossilized over millions of years.

A2 The ancient tree stump fossilized and turned into stone.

B1 The prehistoric insect was fossilized in amber, preserving it for centuries.

B2 The petrified wood fossilized into a beautiful sculpture.

C1 The archaeologist discovered a perfectly fossilized skeleton of a woolly mammoth.

C2 The fossilized remains of a prehistoric plant provided valuable insights into ancient ecosystems.

Examples of fossilize in a Sentence

formal Over time, the organic material in the bone can fossilize and turn into a mineralized form.

informal If you leave that bread out too long, it's going to fossilize and become as hard as a rock.

slang I forgot about that sandwich in my bag and now it's fossilized.

figurative His outdated views on technology have fossilized, making it difficult for him to adapt to new advancements.

Grammatical Forms of fossilize

• past tense: fossilized
• plural: fossilizes
• comparative: more fossilized
• superlative: most fossilized
• present tense: fossilize
• future tense: will fossilize
• perfect tense: has fossilized
• continuous tense: is fossilizing
• singular: fossilize
• positive degree: fossilized
• infinitive: to fossilize
• gerund: fossilizing
• participle: fossilized

Origin and Evolution of fossilize

First Known Use: 1736 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'fossilize' originated from the Latin word 'fossilis', meaning 'dug up'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in a geological context to describe the process of organic material turning into a fossil, the word 'fossilize' has evolved to also mean to become rigid or inflexible in one's beliefs or attitudes.