bone

bone · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Any of the hard parts of the skeleton of a vertebrate.

  2. 2.

    To remove bones from meat or fish.

  3. 3.

    The hard material that bones are made of.

  4. 4.

    Made of or resembling bone.

  5. 5.

    [plural]The body or physical structure.

Forms

plural: bones

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    bone of contention — a subject of dispute
  • •
    bone dry — completely dry
  • •
    bone idle/lazy — extremely lazy
  • •
    feel it in one's bones — to sense something intuitively
  • •
    to the bone — completely, thoroughly
  • •
    make no bones about — to state openly without hesitation
  • •
    have a bone to pick with — to have a complaint against someone
  • •
    throw someone a bone — to give a small reward or concession

Related words

See also: bones, marrow, skeleton
Synonyms: skeleton

Etymology

From Old English ban ("bone"), from Proto-Germanic bainam. Cognate with German Bein ("leg").