(|)i(m), ə+ noun
Etymology: French immobilisation, from immobiliser + -ation
: the act of immobilizing or state of being immobilized: as
a.
(1) : quiet rest in bed for a prolonged period used in the treatment of disease (as tuberculosis)
(2) : fixation (as by a plaster cast) of a body part usually to promote healing in normal structural relation
b. : loss of evolutionary plasticity due to existence in a relatively constant environment resulting in elimination of mutations and variability