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fossil

Definition

A fossil is the remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past. Fossils can be found in rocks all over the world, and they can tell us a lot about the history of life on Earth.

There are many different types of fossils, including:

  • Petrified fossils: These fossils are made of rock that has replaced the original organism.
  • Mould and cast fossils: These fossils are formed when the remains of an organism are buried in sediment and then dissolved away.
  • Trace fossils: These fossils are not the remains of the organism itself, but rather the marks that it left behind, such as footprints or burrows.

Fossils can tell us a lot about the organisms that lived in the past, including their size, shape, diet, and environment. They can also tell us about the climate and geology of the Earth at different times in history.

How can the word be used?

The fossil was found in a rock formation in the desert.

fossil

Different forms of the word

Noun: fossil, fossils.

Adjective: fossilized.

Verb: fossilize, fossilized, fossilizing.

Etymology

The word "fossil" is derived from the Latin word fossilis, which means "dug up". The Latin word fossilis is made up of the verb fossere, which means "to dig", and the suffix -alis, which indicates an adjective.

Question

What types of fossils are there?