fos‧sil‧ize (also fossilise British English) /ˈfɒsəlaɪz, ˈfɒsɪlaɪz $ ˈfɑː-/ verb

1. [usually passive] if people, ideas, systems etc fossilize or are fossilized, they never change or develop, even when there are good reasons why they should change:
Most couples, however fossilized their relationship, have some interests in common.

2. [intransitive and transitive] to become or form a fossil by being preserved in rock:
fossilized dinosaur bones
—fossilization /ˌfɒsəlaɪˈzeɪʃən, ˌfɒsɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən $ ˌfɑːsələ-/ noun [uncountable]

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲