calcify

• Verbe désignant le processus de durcissement ou de fossilisation, souvent dû à un dépôt de sels de calcium, ou, au sens figuré, le fait de devenir rigide ou inflexible.

A verb used to indicate the process of becoming hard or stony, often through the deposition of calcium salts, or figuratively, to become rigid or inflexible.

1. Become hardened with calciumC1formalmedical

   To become hardened or impregnated with calcium salts, often referring to biological tissue.

   Se calcifier

   • The arteries can calcify over time due to poor diet.
   • The doctor noted that the bone had started to calcify after the fracture.
   • Cartilage may calcify in certain medical conditions.

   Synonymeshardenmineralizeossifypetrify

2. Become rigid or unchangingC2formal

   To become inflexible, rigid, or resistant to change, often used metaphorically for ideas or systems.

   Se figer, devenir rigide

   • The organization's bureaucracy began to calcify, stifling innovation.
   • His opinions had calcified over the years, making him unwilling to listen.
   • The political system started to calcify, preventing any reform.

   Synonymescongealfossilizehardenindurateossifypetrifysolidify

   Antonymesadaptchangeevolveflexmeltsoftenyield

3. Turn into limeC2formalscientific

   To convert into lime or a lime-like substance through a chemical process.

   Transformer en chaux

   • The remains of the ancient shells calcified into limestone over millennia.
   • The process can calcify the material, making it brittle.
   • Geologists studied how the deposits calcify under pressure.