godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb
Describes liquids or soft substances becoming solid or stiff, often through cooling or chemical change. Sense 3 (stiffen) is a natural extension of the same physical process.
血が傷口で凝り固まっていた。
The blood had coagulated at the wound.
冷えたスープの脂
The fat in the cold soup had hardened.
godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb
be obsessed; be fanatical; be fixated
Figurative use: describes a person's mind or attitude becoming rigidly fixed on an idea, belief, or activity. Often used with に or で to indicate the object of obsession.
彼は自分の考えに凝り固まっていて、人の意見を聞かない。
He is so fixated on his own ideas that he won't listen to others.
趣味に凝り固まって、仕事が手につかない。
He's so obsessed with his hobby that he can't focus on work.