Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

ossification

American  
[os-uh-fi-kay-shuhn] / ˌɒs ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. the act or process of ossifying.

  2. the state of being ossified.

  3. something that has ossified; a bony formation.


ossification British  
/ ˌɒsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

  1. the formation of or conversion into bone

  2. the process of ossifying or the state of being ossified

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ossification Scientific  
/ ŏs′ə-fĭ-kā′shən /
  1. The process of bone formation, brought about by the action of specialized bone cells called osteoclasts, which absorb old bone tissue, and osteoblasts, which form from osteoclasts and produce new bone tissue. This remodeling of bone is a constant process that maintains bone strength.

  2. See more at osteoblast osteoclast


Etymology

Origin of ossification

1690–1700; < Latin ossi-, combining form of os bone + -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.

See Examples For:

The ossification of the bone fragments also indicates that pressure was occasionally applied to the stump as the young hunter-gatherer probably rested on it after the limb was removed, he added.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 7, 2022

All of the bones of the body, except for the flat bones of the skull, mandible, and clavicles, are formed through endochondral ossification.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

They group together to form the primary ossification center.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

Endochondral ossification takes much longer than intramembranous ossification.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

The cartilage of prolongation undergoes ossification in old horses.

From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by ?douard Cuyer

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training