fossil
FOSL
Fossil (noun) means the preserved remains or traces of an ancient plant or animal, usually turned to stone over time. Example: “The children were thrilled to find a small shell fossil on the beach.”
noun
1
The preserved remains or traces of an ancient plant or animal, usually turned to stone over time.
"The children were thrilled to find a small shell fossil on the beach."
"The museum displayed a dinosaur fossil found in Montana."
"Scientists study fossils to learn how species evolved."
2
Something (or someone) seen as extremely old-fashioned or outdated.
"Some young people think anyone who still writes cheques is a fossil."
"The old rules of the club are a fossil from another era."
"My uncle jokes that his flip phone makes him a fossil."
How to use fossil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe preserved trace of ancient life in rock, or informally, anything hopelessly out of date.
Common pairings
dinosaur fossil
living fossil
fossil record
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Word forms
- Plural
- fossils
Fill the gap
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The children were thrilled to find a small shell _____ on the beach.
Etymology
From Latin fossilis, "dug up," from fodere, "to dig" — fossils were originally just "things dug out of the ground."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “fossil” mean?
The word “fossil” means the preserved remains or traces of an ancient plant or animal, usually turned to stone over time. In plain terms, the preserved trace of ancient life in rock, or informally, anything hopelessly out of date.
How do you pronounce “fossil”?
“Fossil” is pronounced FOSL (/ˈfɑsl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “fossil” in a sentence?
Here is “fossil” used in a sentence: “The museum displayed a dinosaur fossil found in Montana.”
What part of speech is “fossil”?
“Fossil” is a noun.
Where does the word “fossil” come from?
The word “fossil” comes from Latin. From Latin fossilis, "dug up," from fodere, "to dig" — fossils were originally just "things dug out of the ground.".
Is “fossil” a common word?
“Fossil” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “fossil” have?
“Fossil” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the preserved remains or traces of an ancient plant or animal, usually turned to stone over time.
What is the difference between a fossil and a bone?
A bone is fresh skeletal tissue from a recently living animal, while a fossil is the preserved remains or trace of an ancient organism, usually mineralized and turned to stone over long periods. Fossils can also include imprints, shells, or footprints, not just bones.
What is the difference between a fossil and a relic?
A fossil is the preserved remains or trace of an ancient plant or animal, typically formed in rock over time, while a relic is any surviving object from the past, often human-made or historical. Fossils are natural formations; relics are usually cultural.
Can fossil be used to describe a person?
Yes, informally. Calling someone or something a 'fossil' is a figurative way of saying they are extremely old-fashioned or out of date. Used this way it is usually mildly insulting.
What is the difference between a fossil and fossil fuel?
A fossil is the preserved remains of a single ancient organism, while 'fossil fuel' refers to energy sources like coal, oil, and gas formed from the remains of many organisms over millions of years. The term borrows the 'fossil' idea of ancient, buried origin.
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