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cornification

American

[kawr-nuh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌkɔr nə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

Biology.

the formation of a horny layer of skin, or horny skin structures, as hair, nails, or scales, from squamous epithelial cells.

Etymology

Origin of cornification

First recorded in 1835–45; corn ² + -i- + -fication

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The gene activity changes pointed toward increased keratinization and cornification, processes that help form the skin's protective outer barrier against environmental damage.

From Science Daily • May 18, 2026

Once they reach the top of the epidermis, they undergo a programmed death, cornification, to create a protective barrier of dead cells.

From Science Daily • Nov. 18, 2024

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023