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jawbone

[ jaw-bohn ]
/ ˈdʒɔˌboʊn /
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See synonyms for: jawbone / jawboned / jawboning on Thesaurus.com

noun
a bone of either jaw; a maxilla or mandible.
the bone of the lower jaw; mandible.
verb (used with or without object), jaw·boned, jaw·bon·ing.
Informal. to attempt to influence or pressure by persuasion rather than by the exertion of force or one's authority, as in urging voluntary compliance with economic guidelines: The president jawboned the steel industry into postponing price increases.
adjective
Informal. obtained by or resorting to such a practice: jawbone controls.
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Origin of jawbone

First recorded in 1480–90; jaw1 + bone

OTHER WORDS FROM jawbone

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

How to use jawbone in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jawbone

jawbone
/ (ˈdʒɔːˌbəʊn) /

noun
a nontechnical name for mandible, (or (less commonly)) maxilla
verb
US to try to persuade or bring pressure to bear (on) by virtue of one's high office or position, esp in urging compliance with official policy
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
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