remains of a prehistoric animal or plant preserved by being buried in earth and now hardened like rock 化石: This fossil may be over 2 million years old. 这化石可能超过二百万年了. * [attrib 作定语] fossil bones, shells, etc 变成化石的骨﹑ 贝壳等. 
(infml derog 口, 贬) person, esp an old one, who is unable to accept new ideas or adapt to new conditions 不能接受新思想或不能适应新情况的人（尤指老年人）; 老顽固; 老古董: Our literature teacher is an old fossil. 我们的文学老师是个老顽固.> fossilize, -ise / 5fCsElaIz; `fBsl9aIz/ v [I, Tn usu passive 通常用於被动语态]
1 (cause sth to) become a fossil （使某物）成为化石: fossilized leaves 成为化石的叶子.
2 (fig 比喻) make (sth) or become out of date or fixed 使（某事物）（变得）过时或固定不变: old-fashioned fossilized attitudes 落後的﹑ 固定不变的看法. fossilization, -isation / 9fCsElaI5zeIFn; [email protected] -lI5z-;9fBslE`zeFEn/ n [U].
# `fossil fuel fuel, eg coal or oil, formed from the decayed remains of prehistoric animals or plants 矿物燃料, 化石燃料（如煤或石油）.