bone

[ bohn ]

/ boʊn /

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See synonyms for: bone / boned / bones / boning on Thesaurus.com

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

one of the structures composing the skeleton of a vertebrate.
the hard connective tissue forming the substance of the skeleton of most vertebrates, composed of a collagen-rich organic matrix impregnated with calcium, phosphate, and other minerals.

such a structure from an edible animal, usually with meat adhering to it, as an article of food: Pea soup should be made with a ham bone.

any of various similarly hard or structural animal substances, as ivory or whalebone.

something made of or resembling such a substance.

a small concession, intended to pacify or quiet; a conciliatory bribe or gift: The administration threw the student protesters a couple of bones, but refused to make any basic changes in the curriculum or requirements.

bones,

the skeleton.
a body: Let his bones rest in peace.
Games Slang. dice.
(initial capital letter) Mr. Bones.
a simple rhythm instrument consisting of two sometimes curved bars or short strips of bone, ivory, wood, or the like, held between the fingers of one hand and clacked together.

the color of bone; ivory or off-white.

a flat strip of whalebone or other material for stiffening corsets, petticoats, etc.; stay.

Games Slang. a domino.

verb (used with object), boned, bon·ing.

to remove the bones from: to bone a turkey.

to put whalebone or another stiffener into (clothing).

Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with: He was boning his best friend's wife!

Agriculture. to put bone meal into (feed, fertilizer, etc.).

adverb

completely; absolutely: bone tired.

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Idioms about bone

bone up, Informal. to study intensely; cram: We're going to have to bone up for the exam.

feel in one's bones, to think or feel intuitively: She felt in her bones that it was going to be a momentous day.

have a bone to pick with someone, to have cause to disagree or argue with someone: The teacher had a bone to pick with him because his homework paper was identical with his neighbor's.

make no bones about,

to deal with in a direct manner; act or speak openly: He makes no bones about his dislike of modern music.
to have no fear of or objection to.

to the bone,

to the essentials; to the minimum: The government cut social service programs to the bone.
to an extreme degree; thoroughly: chilled to the bone.

Origin of bone

First recorded before 900; Middle English bo(o)n, Old English bān; cognate with Old Frisian, Old Saxon bēn, Dutch been “bone,” Old Norse bein “bone, leg,” German Bein “leg”; from Germanic bainam

Words nearby bone

bondstone, bondswoman, bonduc, bond washing, bondwoman, bone, bone ash, bone bed, boneblack, bone cell, bone china

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bone in a sentence

The $1,500 Embody Gaming Chair has the bones of an office chair.
Should your next home-office chair be an esports gaming chair?|Anne Quito|July 27, 2020|Quartz
After too long in microgravity, our muscles and bones become weak.
Scientists Say: Microgravity|Bethany Brookshire|July 27, 2020|Science News For Students
The man’s bones had previously been found in the Newgrange passage tomb, an earthen mound covering more than 4,000 square meters near the River Boyne.
DNA from a 5,200-year-old Irish tomb hints at ancient royal incest|Bruce Bower|June 17, 2020|Science News
Archaeologist Ryan Rabett of Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland calls the new study of Sri Lankan bone points “suggestive but not definitive” evidence of bow-and-arrow hunting.
Clues to the earliest known bow-and-arrow hunting outside Africa have been found|Bruce Bower|June 12, 2020|Science News

The tooth and six bone fragments are more than 40,000 years old.
This cave hosted the oldest known human remains in Europe|Bruce Bower|June 12, 2020|Science News For Students
Not long after I was finally diagnosed, my doctor ordered a bone density scan.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Later studies showed that only gaining weight and the return of natural menstruation help improve bone density.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My doctor put me on oral contraceptives to induce a period, figuring it would help build bone.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This leaves people with a history of anorexia and reduced bone density like me at high risk for fractures.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An x-ray two hours later confirms my hunch: my tibia (the big bone behind the shin) is snapped clean in two.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I saw this girl, eight or nine years old, all benumbed and nothing but skin and bone.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Large mononuclear leukocytes probably originate in the bone-marrow or spleen.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
That we will, and you never need want, Mark, for I've many a fine bone buried away against old age and rainy weather.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
Myelocytes are the bone-marrow cells from which the corresponding granular leukocytes are developed.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes are formed in the bone-marrow from neutrophilic myelocytes.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for bone (1 of 2)

bone

/ (bəʊn) /

noun

any of the various structures that make up the skeleton in most vertebrates

the porous rigid tissue of which these parts are made, consisting of a matrix of collagen and inorganic salts, esp calcium phosphate, interspersed with canals and small holesRelated adjectives: osseous, osteal

something consisting of bone or a bonelike substance

(plural) the human skeleton or bodythey laid his bones to rest; come and rest your bones

a thin strip of whalebone, light metal, plastic, etc, used to stiffen corsets and brassieres

(plural) the essentials (esp in the phrase the bare bones)to explain the bones of a situation

(plural) dice

(plural) an informal nickname for a doctor

close to the bone or near the bone

risqué or indecenthis jokes are rather close to the bone
in poverty; destitute

feel in one's bones to have an intuition of

have a bone to pick to have grounds for a quarrel

make no bones about

to be direct and candid about
to have no scruples about

point the bone (often foll by at) Australian

to wish bad luck (on)
to threaten to bring about the downfall (of)

verb (mainly tr)

to remove the bones from (meat for cooking, etc)

to stiffen (a corset, etc) by inserting bones

to fertilize with bone meal

taboo, slang to have sexual intercourse with

British a slang word for steal

Derived forms of bone

boneless, adjective

Word Origin for bone

Old English bān; related to Old Norse béin, Old Frisian bēn, Old High German bein

British Dictionary definitions for bone (2 of 2)

Bône

/ (French bon) /

noun

a former name of Annaba

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for bone

bone

[ bōn ]

The hard, dense, calcified tissue that forms the skeleton of most vertebrates, consisting of a matrix made up of collagen fibers and mineral salts. There are two main types of bone structure: compact, which is solid and hard, and cancellous, which is spongy in appearance. Bone serves as a framework for the attachment of muscles and protects vital organs, such as the brain, heart, and lungs. See more at osteoblast osteocyte.

Any of the structures made of bone that constitute a skeleton, such as the femur. The human skeleton consists of 206 bones.

Other Idioms and Phrases with bone

bone

In addition to the idioms beginning with bone

bone of contention
bone to pick, have a
bone up

also see:

bare bones
chilled to the bone
cut to the bone
feel in one's bones
funny bone
make no bones about
pull a boner
roll the bones
skin and bones
work one's fingers to the bone

bone

Idioms about bone

Origin of bone

Words nearby bone

Words related to bone

How to use bone in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bone (1 of 2)

Derived forms of bone

Word Origin for bone

British Dictionary definitions for bone (2 of 2)

Scientific definitions for bone

Other Idioms and Phrases with bone