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Glite Dictionary
to sclerotize

to sclerotize

9.9
To make a soft body part hard and strong, like an insect shell
  • verb
  • /ˈsklɛrəˌtaɪz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : esclerotizar
  • The outer shell of the beetle is sclerotized to protect it from predators.

Examples

  • During development, certain tissues sclerotize to form a rigid structure.

  • Scientists sclerotize insect exoskeletons in the lab to study their durability.

  • The researchers discovered how to sclerotize the tissue effectively.

  • Can you explain how we can sclerotize these samples?

  • Researchers often sclerotize the tissues of arthropods to enhance their resistance to environmental challenges.

  • To protect the insect from injury, its body will sclerotize as it matures.

  • In nature, many species sclerotize their shell structures to ensure survival against predators.

Synonyms

to sclerose
vsto sclerotize
  • Specialized
1 9.9

To become hard and stiff in tissue or an organ because of disease

is a natural chemical hardening forming a tough outer layer, not disease change
to keratinize
vsto sclerotize
  • Specialized
9.4

To become hard and tough like hair, nails, or feathers

is a chemical hardening that forms a tough outer layer in arthropods

How Hard

to calcify
  • Specialized
3 7.4
to sclerotize
  • Specialized
9.9
to harden
27 2.6
to soften
55 1.3

Surface Forms

sclerotize infinitive
sclerotized past
sclerotized past participle
sclerotizing present participle
sclerotizes third person singular

Morphology

sclerotize = sclerot + ize

Formally composed of the combining form 'sclerot-' (meaning 'hard') plus the productive verb-forming suffix '-ize', but the combining form is technical/Greek-derived and not recognizable to an average B1 learner, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived from familiar English vocabulary.

Etymology

Sclerotize comes from the Greek root skleros, meaning 'hard', and the ending -ize, meaning 'to make'. So, to sclerotize is to 'make hard', which fits its use in biology when tissues become a tough outer layer, like an insect's shell.