/'fɒsl; `fɑsl/
n
1 remains of a prehistoric animal or plant preserved by being buried in earth and now hardened like rock 化石
*This fossil may be over
2 million years old. 这化石可能超过二百万年了.
* [attrib 作定语] fossil bones, shells, etc 变成化石的骨、贝壳等.
2 (infml derog 口, 贬) person, esp an old one, who is unable to accept new ideas or adapt to new conditions 不能接受新思想或不能适应新情况的人（尤指老年人）; 老顽固; 老古董
*Our literature teacher is an old fossil. 我们的文学老师是个老顽固.

n[C]

[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin;Origin: fossilis 'dug up', from fodere 'to dig']
an animal or plant that lived many thousands of years ago and that has been preserved, or the shape of one of these animals or plants that has been preserved in rock
　fossils of early reptiles
　Marine sponges have a long fossil record (=their development has been recorded over a long period) .
→living fossil
informal an insulting word for an old person