ossify
/ˈɒs.ɪ.faɪ/
Group 31Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To turn into bone or bony tissue; to cease developing; to become rigid or fixed GRE
Example in Context
The bureaucracy had ossified over decades of unchanged procedures, becoming incapable of adapting to the demands of a rapidly changing environment.
Synonyms
hardensolidifyrigidify
Etymology
To make into bone — signifies becoming rigid or unchanging.
- os- (Latin) — bone
- ficare (Latin) — to make
Memory Aid
🦴Sounds like “oss-if-I”
A dinosaur saying, 'OSS-IF I don't stop moving, I'll turn to stone!' — it’s a warning to not OSSIFY!
Visual Association
🐢A turtle that freezes in place, slowly becoming a stone statue.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “ossify” mean on the GRE?
ossify (verb) means “To turn into bone or bony tissue; to cease developing; to become rigid or fixed”. The bureaucracy had ossified over decades of unchanged procedures, becoming incapable of adapting to the demands of a rapidly changing environment.
How to remember “ossify” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “ossify” sounds like “oss-if-I”. A dinosaur saying, 'OSS-IF I don't stop moving, I'll turn to stone!' — it’s a warning to not OSSIFY!
What are synonyms for “ossify”?
Common synonyms: harden, solidify, rigidify.