fossilize
verb /ˈfɒsəlaɪz/
/ˈfɑːsəlaɪz/
(British English also fossilise)
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they fossilize | /ˈfɒsəlaɪz/ /ˈfɑːsəlaɪz/ |
| he / she / it fossilizes | /ˈfɒsəlaɪzɪz/ /ˈfɑːsəlaɪzɪz/ |
| past simple fossilized | /ˈfɒsəlaɪzd/ /ˈfɑːsəlaɪzd/ |
| past participle fossilized | /ˈfɒsəlaɪzd/ /ˈfɑːsəlaɪzd/ |
| -ing form fossilizing | /ˈfɒsəlaɪzɪŋ/ /ˈfɑːsəlaɪzɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, usually passive, intransitive] fossilize (something) to make an animal or a plant become a fossil; to become a fossil
- The bones have been fossilized and beautifully preserved.
- Flowers do not readily fossilize.
- [intransitive, transitive] fossilize (somebody/something) (disapproving) to become, or make somebody/something become, fixed and unable to change or develop