fos·sil·ize (also fossilise British English) /ˈfɒsəlaɪz $ ˈfɑː-/ verb 1 OLD-FASHIONEDif people, ideas, systems etc fossilize or are fossilized, they never change or develop, even when there are good reasons why they should change (使)〔人、思想、体制等〕僵化 Most couples, however fossilized their relationship, have some interests in common. 大多数夫妻,不管关系多么僵化,都有一些共同的兴趣。
2 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]HEG to become or form a fossil by being preserved in rock (使)成化石,石化 fossilized dinosaur bones 恐龙骨化石
n Grammar Fossilize is usually passive.
—fossilization /ˌfɒsəlaɪˈzeɪʃən $ ˌfɑːsələ-/ noun [uncountableU]