bone

[ bohn ]

/ boʊn /

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.

Idioms for 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

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)

Definition for bones (2 of 2)

Annaba

[ an-nah-buh ]

/ ænˈnɑ bə /

noun

a seaport in NE Algeria: site of Hippo Regius.

Formerly Bône [bohn] /boʊn/.

Example sentences from the Web for bones

Instead of being strong and resilient, bones become weak and brittle.

You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder |Carrie Arnold |December 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
My surgeon told me my bones were so soft he could barely install the screws.

You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder |Carrie Arnold |December 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But even if the great conqueror lies elsewhere, the Kasta bones might well be those of his wife.

Is This Alexander the Great’s Tomb—or His Wife’s? |James Romm |December 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Chiefly, we forgot the many, many problems there are with the bones—the book and score—to this show.

‘Peter Pan Live!’ Review: No Amount of Clapping Brings It to Life |Kevin Fallon |December 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Sticks and stones may break my bones / but chains and whips excite me.

Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix |Justin Jones |November 25, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I was told that the bones were not replaced but that sticks were inserted to maintain the fingers in proper shape.

The Medicine-Men of the Apache. (1892 N 09 / 1887-1888 (pages 443-604)) |John G. Bourke
The devi filled his mouth, tore off the flesh, and threw the bones to the three brothers.

Georgian Folk Tales |Unknown
The operation is carried out on the same lines as for recent fracture, the ends of the bones being rawed and adhesions divided.

Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities--Head--Neck. Sixth Edition. |Alexander Miles
Our horses were so exhausted and thin that on their bones we could have hung our overcoats.

Beasts, Men and Gods |Ferdinand Ossendowski
The cartilaginous ends of the bones grow rapidly, but ossification does not keep pace with it.

Special Report on Diseases of Cattle |U.S. Department of Agriculture

British Dictionary definitions for bones (1 of 3)

Bône

/ (French bon) /

noun

a former name of Annaba

British Dictionary definitions for bones (2 of 3)

Annaba

/ (ˈænəbə) /

noun

a port in NE Algeria: site of the Roman city of Hippo Regius. Pop: 382 000 (2005 est) Former name: Bône

British Dictionary definitions for bones (3 of 3)

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 holes Related adjectives: osseous, osteal

something consisting of bone or a bonelike substance

(plural) the human skeleton or body they 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

Medical definitions for bones

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.

Scientific definitions for bones

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 bones

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

bone