verb
- to convert into wood or woody tissue; to become woody
Usage: third-person singular present tense of 'lignify'; chiefly botanical and biological contexts
Examples
- As the plant matures, the stem lignifies and becomes stronger.
- The cell walls lignify during the secondary growth phase of the tree.
- Over time, the soft tissue lignifies into a rigid woody structure.
- The vascular tissue lignifies to provide structural support to the plant.