Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To become converted into a fossil: The process by which organic material is replaced by minerals and preserved in rock over geological time.
   • To become rigidly fixed in attitude, ideas, or methods; to become outdated or unchanging: To become mentally or culturally inflexible, as if turned to stone.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To convert into a fossil: To cause organic remains to become preserved as a fossil.
   • To make rigidly antiquated or fixed: To cause something to become outdated or unchanging.

Examples of Usage

• Intransitive Verb:

  • The ancient tree trunks slowly fossilised over millions of years.
  • His political views had fossilised; he refused to consider any new ideas.

• Transitive Verb:

  • The rapid burial in sediment helped to fossilise the dinosaur bones.
  • The company's outdated policies fossilised its approach to innovation.

Advanced Usage

• In a figurative or sociological context: Often used to describe institutions, traditions, or ideologies that have become rigid and resistant to change.
  • Certain bureaucratic procedures have become fossilised and hinder progress.

Variants and Related Words

• Fossil (n): The preserved remains or impression of an organism from the past.
• Fossilisation (n): The process of becoming a fossil or the state of being fossilised.
• Fossilised (adj): Having been turned into a fossil; or, figuratively, fixed and unchanging.
  • We found a fossilised leaf in the shale.
  • He has a fossilised mindset.

Synonyms

• Petrify: To change organic matter into a stony substance; also, to paralyse with fear. (Note: 'Petrify' is a stronger synonym for the literal process.)
• Harden: To make or become solid or rigid. (Figurative sense)
• Calcify: To harden by deposition of calcium salts; often used figuratively for becoming inflexible.
• Stagnate: To cease to flow or move; to become inactive or dull. (Figurative sense)

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

(There are no common idioms directly using the word 'fossilise'. Its figurative use itself functions as a metaphorical idiom.)

Verb

1. become mentally inflexible
2. convert to a fossil
   • The little animals fossilized and are now embedded in the limestone