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uncalcified

uncalcified

7.4
Not made hard by calcium in bones, shells, or cartilage
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnˈkæl.sɪ.faɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : no calcificado
  • The researcher noted that the uncalcified bones were more flexible than their hardened counterparts.

Examples

  • The uncalcified tissue was easier to manipulate during the surgical procedure.

  • In the laboratory, we observed that uncalcified specimens could bend without breaking.

  • The smallest specimen (185 cm) had undeveloped testes, uncalcified claspers, and was immature.

    Academic text (1994)

Synonyms

unossified
vsuncalcified
  • Specialized
9.9

Not turned into bone and still soft

is not hardened by calcium salt deposits
unhardened
vsuncalcified
  • Specialized
6.3

Not fully solid after making, like metal or mortar

is hardened specifically by calcium salts rather than general setting

How Calcified

ossified
2 9.3
uncalcified
  • Specialized
7.4

Surface Forms

uncalcified positive

Morphology

uncalcified = calcified (transparent) = un + calcify + ed

Formation is a straightforward negation: 'calcified' (hardened by calcium deposits) + 'un-' = not hardened; the structure is clear though somewhat technical.

Etymology

The word uncalcified breaks into un- meaning 'not' and calcify meaning 'to make hard with calcium'. The root comes from the Latin word calx 'lime' and is the same source as calcium, so uncalcified means 'not hardened by calcium'.