What is "lignify"

Lignify \Lig"ni*fy\ (l[i^]g"n[i^]*f[imac]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lignified (l[i^]g"n[i^]*f[imac]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Lignifying (l[i^]g"n[i^]*f[imac]`[i^]ng).] [L. lignum wood + -fy: cf. F. lignifier.] (Bot.) To convert into wood or into a ligneous substance.

Lignify \Lig"ni*fy\, v. i. (Bot.) To become wood.

vb. 1 (context intransitive English) To become wood. 2 (context intransitive botany English): To develop woody tissue as a result of incrustation of lignin during secondary growth. 3 (context intransitive English), (''by extension''): To become rigid or fixed, like something made of wood. 4 (context transitive English) To turn into wood; to make ligneous.