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T-bone

American  
[tee-bohn] / ˈtiˌboʊn /

noun

  • T-bones
    plural
  1. a T-bone steak, a choice piece of beef with a conspicuous T -shaped bone.


verb (used with object)

T-boned, T-boning
  1. Informal to crash into the side of (a motor vehicle).

    The driver of the SUV drove through a red light and T-boned a city bus.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of T-bone

From the shape of the letter T + bone ( def. ); T-bone def. 1 was first recorded in 1930–35; T-bone def. 2 in 1965–70.

Compare meaning

How does t-bone compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"They were ordering T-bone steaks, fillet steaks, double desserts, they wanted two brownies on a plate," said Mr Cangelosi.

From BBC Apr. 22, 2024

“I lift barbell plates. I eat T-bone steaks. I’m sweeter than a German chocolate cake. How much more of me can you take?“

From Los Angeles Times May 18, 2023

Try this braai sout, a fragrant dry rub from South Africa, on a juicy T-bone steak.

From New York Times Jan. 4, 2023

Another is from Math Igler’s Casino Restaurant, where a T-bone with mushrooms went for $5 in 1950.

From Seattle Times Sep. 30, 2022

There was a tradition back then of serving every Marine a T-bone steak, eggs and biscuits with lots of gravy, and as much coffee as he could drink before getting onto his landing craft.

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac

Cignetti’s gotten a lot of attention for his bravado and his menacing sideline presence, in which he paces and stares like a customer who thinks the butcher’s hiding the best T-bones.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 20, 2026

“He went over my hedges, across my front lawn, and then T-bones the Tesla,” Kelleher said.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 14, 2024

She spent 25 years at the Legion Club serving T-bones to Bob Devaney and a host of Lincoln’s veterans and businessmen.

From Washington Times Jan. 18, 2020

From there, they’ll likely end up as T-bones and briskets in stores and restaurants across America and Canada.

From The Guardian Jun. 19, 2017

He drifted through every few months in search of T-bones and guavas.

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer

Don’t miss: ‘My head hit the driver’s window’: A teenager T-boned our car.

From MarketWatch Aug. 10, 2026

A driver T-boned my Volvo on my way home from work at E!

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 14, 2025

On Google Meet, Ohman said, “I felt like I had been T-boned at an intersection.”

From Seattle Times Aug. 25, 2023

The 11th Hour Racing Team left The Hague, Netherlands, on Sunday, less than 72 hours after it was T-boned by another boat just 17 minutes into the start of the final leg.

From Washington Times Jun. 19, 2023

“I saw you, okay? You almost got T-boned, swerving out of the lot.”

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin

Earnhart’s grille was crushed after T-boning Clint Bowyer in the melee.

From Washington Post Sep. 12, 2011

When possible, you should approach the dock at a somewhat-acute angle rather than one that will result in T-boning the tiki bar if the engine abruptly quits.

From Time Magazine Archive

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