n 1 a  :  the process of bone formation usu. beginning at particular centers in each prospective bone and involving the activities of special osteoblasts that segregate and deposit inorganic bone substance about themselves - compare CALCIFICATIONa    b  :  an instance of this process  2 a  :  the condition of being altered into a hard bony substance < of the muscular tissue>   b  :  a mass or particle of ossified tissue  :  a calcareous deposit in the tissues <s in the aortic wall>  os*si*fi*ca*to*ry adj 
 
 
 
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