bone

[ bohn ]

/ boʊn /

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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).

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

adverb

completely; absolutely: bone tired.

Nearby words

bondsman, bondstone, bondswoman, bonduc, bondwoman, bone, bone ash, bone bed, bone block, bone canaliculus, bone cell

Idioms

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

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 (-bein bone, in compounds); < Germanic *bainan (neuter), probably orig. past participle (compare Old Irish benaid (he) hews), meaning “lopped off,” from butchering of animals; orig. in phrase *bainan astan lopped-off bone or branch (hence, “leg,” as a branch of the body); replacing *astan bone < Indo-European *Host- (> Latin os(s), Albanian asht, Avestan ast-, Hittite hast-ai), which fell together in Gmc with *astaz branch (> German Ast) < Indo-European *osdos (> Greek ózos, Armenian ost)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for boning

But instead of boning up on trivia, he read my blog—and schooled himself on game theory.
How I Taught Arthur Chu to Be the ‘Jeopardy!’ Champ Everyone Loves to Hate|Keith Williams|February 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For the young socialite, who is hotly tipped to marry Prince Harry, appears to be boning up babies.
Baby Books Suggest Cressida Bonas Has Babies On The Brain|Tom Sykes|December 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Also, on their honeymoon, Edward breaks the bedframe from the ferocity of boning.
The Future of Twilight|Natasha Vargas-Cooper|July 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The work of boning is not difficult, but it requires practice.
The Italian Cook Book|Maria Gentile

When they were not boning away over their lessons they were getting the Dartaway in readiness for the trip.
The Motor Boys After a Fortune|Clarence Young
He had shut himself in the clubroom over the grill and had been boning for an examination.
Battling the Clouds|Captain Frank Cobb
No boning to do, and we can slip away with some eats on the side and have a grub-fest.
Tom Fairfield's Hunting Trip|Allen Chapman
The following process of boning, however, applies to all birds.
Choice Cookery|Catherine Owen

British Dictionary definitions for boning (1 of 2)

Bône

/ (French bon) /

noun

a former name of Annaba

British Dictionary definitions for boning (2 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

boneless, adjective

Word Origin for bone

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

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

Medicine definitions for boning

bone

[ bōn ]

n.

The dense, semirigid, porous, calcified connective tissue forming the major portion of the skeleton of most vertebrates, consisting of a dense organic matrix and an inorganic, mineral component.

Any of the more than 200 anatomically distinct structures making up the human skeleton.

A piece of bone.

Science definitions for boning

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.

Idioms and Phrases with boning

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

noun

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

adverb

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of bone

Examples from the Web for boning

British Dictionary definitions for boning (1 of 2)

Bône

noun

British Dictionary definitions for boning (2 of 2)

bone

noun

verb (mainly tr)

Derived Forms

Word Origin for bone

Medicine definitions for boning

bone

n.

Science definitions for boning

bone

Idioms and Phrases with boning

bone