to become preserved as a fossil when organic remains are slowly replaced by minerals over geological time.
It can take millions of years for bones to fossilize in sediment.
Ancient shellfish shells fossilize beautifully in limestone.
✦ From fossil + -ize. The noun fossil comes from Latin fossilis (“dug up”), from fodiō (“to dig”).
to become or cause to become rigid, fixed, and incapable of change.
Her attitudes have fossilized after years without new experiences.
Old traditions can fossilize and prevent progress.
