Ossification

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ossification \Os`si*fi*ca"tion\, n. [Cf. F. ossification. See
     {Ossify}.]
     1. (Physiol.) The formation of bone; the process, in the
        growth of an animal, by which inorganic material (mainly
        lime salts) is deposited in cartilage or membrane, forming
        bony tissue; ostosis.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Besides the natural ossification of growing tissue,
           there is the so-called accidental ossification which
           sometimes follows certain abnormal conditions, as in
           the ossification of an artery.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The state of being changed into a bony substance; also, a
        mass or point of ossified tissue.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  ossification
       n 1: the developmental process of bone formation
       2: the calcification of soft tissue into a bonelike material
       3: the process of becoming rigidly fixed in a conventional
          pattern of thught or behavior
       4: hardened conventionality [syn: {conformity}]