calcify

American  

[kal-suh-fahy] / ˈkæl səˌfaɪ /

verb (used with or without object)

calcified, calcifying

1. Physiology.  to make or become calcareous or bony; harden by the deposit of calcium salts.

2. Geology.  to harden by deposition of calcium carbonate.

3. to make or become rigid or intransigent, as in a political position.

---

calcify British  

/ ˈkælsɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to convert or be converted into lime

2. to harden or become hardened by impregnation with calcium salts

---

Other Word Forms

• noncalcified adjective
• uncalcified adjective

Etymology

Origin of calcify

First recorded in 1830–40; calci- + -fy

Example Sentences

Networking isn’t like traditional manufacturing or energy infrastructure where market share calcifies over decades.

From Barron's

“Yes, there he is, look at that — calcified knees,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

The new AD will work with a president who saw how the old model of college sports had become “calcified.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Those are things that we could try that people don’t necessarily have those calcified opinions around yet.

From Salon

Victor then flips back to an earlier chapter, before their graduation, to a time when Agnes seems less calcified in her idiosyncrasies.

From Los Angeles Times