fossilization

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

fossilization
    n 1: the process of fossilizing a plant or animal that existed
         in some earlier age; the process of being turned to stone
         [syn: {fossilization}, {fossilisation}]
    2: becoming inflexible or out of date [syn: {fossilization},
       {fossilisation}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Fossilization \Fos`sil*i*za"tion\, n. [Cf. F. fossilisation.]
   The process of converting, or of being converted, into a
   fossil.
   [1913 Webster]

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