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.

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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 recordedbefore 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bone in a sentence

The winged out smokey eye trailed into the brow bone, and dusted the inner corner for an even more pronounced “empress” look.
Ebonee Davis’s Birthday Makeup Was A Tribute To The Ancestors|Steven Psyllos|November 20, 2020|Essence.com
Our grandkids are not going to be in vehicles powered by dinosaur bones.
How to play the 2021 recovery, according to investing experts|matthewheimer|November 20, 2020|Fortune
Every day he went to a landfill where he bought piles of paper and bones from scavengers and then shoveled the waste onto a truck.
The Stolen Childhood of Teenage Factory Workers|by Melissa Sanchez|November 20, 2020|ProPublica
Almost a year later, he said the bone still feels dislocated.
Inside the Lives of Immigrant Teens Working Dangerous Night Shifts in Suburban Factories|by Melissa Sanchez|November 19, 2020|ProPublica

Families gathered near the beach to enjoy the spectacle—only to be showered with rainstorms of flesh, blood, and bone.
Remembering one of history’s greatest whale explosions|Sara Kiley Watson|November 16, 2020|Popular-Science
With its exquisite landscapes, birds-eye view and soothing cinematic music, Drone Boning makes sex look like art.
Anatomy of a Drone Porn: ‘Drone Boning’ Makes Sex Look Like Art|Aurora Snow|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No actual sex happened during the filming of Drone Boning—it was all simulated.
Anatomy of a Drone Porn: ‘Drone Boning’ Makes Sex Look Like Art|Aurora Snow|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Never the less, Drone Boning is by far the superior production.
Anatomy of a Drone Porn: ‘Drone Boning’ Makes Sex Look Like Art|Aurora Snow|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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
I give you the boned quail to show you what an exceedingly simple operation boning is.
A Course of Lectures on the Principles of Domestic Economy and Cookery|Juliet Corson
Boning, as will be readily understood, consists in removing the flesh from the bones before the bird is cooked.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 3|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
The bird may be drawn or not before boning it, but in any event care must be taken not to break any part of the skin.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 3|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Sticking up a bank, or boning a flock of maiden ewes to take up a run with?
Robbery Under Arms|Thomas Alexander Browne, AKA Rolf Boldrewood
It is like a broken down importer of French silks embarking in the soap-boning business.
Redburn. His First Voyage|Herman Melville

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

Medical definitions for bone

bone

[ bōn ]

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.

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 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)

Medical definitions for bone

Scientific definitions for bone

Other Idioms and Phrases with bone