[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/fossil/)

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# fossil

noun (a fossil, fossils)

«fossil» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A fossil is the remains or shape of a plant or animal from very long ago, kept in rock. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fossil/#m1)
2. Fossil fuels are coal, oil and gas, made from ancient living things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fossil/#m2)
3. Informally, an old fossil is a joking name for an old-fashioned person. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fossil/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science lessons fossils show how living things have changed over millions of years and give evidence about dinosaurs; fossils form when remains are buried in mud that turns to rock. Phrases: «fossil fuels», «dinosaur fossil», «fossil hunting».

### Examples

- We found a fossil of a shell on the beach. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fossil/#x1)
- Fossils tell us what dinosaurs looked like. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fossil/#x2)
- Mary Anning was a famous fossil hunter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fossil/#x3)
- Coal and oil are fossil fuels. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fossil/#x4)
- The museum has a fossil of a huge fish. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fossil/#x5)
- Fossils form very slowly over millions of years. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fossil/#x6)
- Footprints can also become fossils. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fossil/#x7)

### Note

Countable. Double s. Verb: fossilise/fossilize. Trap: most fossils are not bones themselves but rock that has taken their shape. Burning fossil fuels adds carbon dioxide to the air.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «fossil» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fossil/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«fossil» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fossil.html) on Mova free.