: conversion into horn or a horny or keratinous substance or tissue
Word History
Etymology
Latin cornū "horn" + -ification — more at horn
First Known Use
circa 1843, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
cornification
noun
cor·ni·fi·ca·tion ˌkȯr-nə-fə-ˈkā-shən
1
: conversion into horn or a horny substance or tissue : keratinization
2
: the histological and cytological changes that occur in the vaginal epithelium especially of a rodent in response to stimulation by an estrogen and that have been used as a bioassay for estrogenicity of chemicals (as pesticides) in the environment