(countable, informal) A foster parent. / (uncountable) The care given to another; guardianship.

(transitive) To nurture or bring up offspring, or to provide similar parental care to an unrelated child. / (transitive) To cultivate and grow something. / (transitive) To nurse or cherish something.

(obsolete) A forester.

The mineralized remains of an animal or plant. / (paleontology) Any preserved evidence of ancient life, including shells, imprints, burrows, coprolites, and organically-produced chemicals.

Any fuel derived from hydrocarbon deposits such as coal, petroleum, natural gas and, to some extent, peat; these fuels are non-renewable, and their burning generates the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

A small city, the county seat of Wheeler County, Oregon, United States.

An English surname originating as an occupation, variant of Forster. / A male given name transferred from the surname. / A former settlement in San Diego County, California.

Alternative spelling of fossilize

(transitive) to make into a fossil / (intransitive) to become a fossil / (figuratively, by extension, intransitive) To become inflexible or outmoded.

Britain standard spelling of fossilization.