ˈlignəˌfī verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: French lignifier, from lign- + -fier -fy
transitive verb
: to convert into wood or woody tissue
intransitive verb
: to become wood or woody by chemical and physical changes in the cell walls that convert some or all of the constituents into lignin or lignocellulose — compare cuticularized , cutinized , suberization