bone

Syllabification: (bone)

Pronunciation: /bōn/

Definition of bone

1any of the pieces of hard, whitish tissue making up the skeleton in humans and other vertebrates:his injuries included many broken bones a shoulder bone
The substance of bones is formed by specialized cells (osteoblasts) that secrete around themselves a material containing calcium salts (which provide hardness and strength in compression) and collagen fibers (which provide tensile strength). Many bones have a central cavity containing marrow
(bones) a person’s body:he hauled his tired bones upright
(bones) a corpse or skeleton:the diggers turned up the bones of a fifteen-year-old girl bones of prehistoric mammals
a bone of an animal with meat on it, used as food for people or dogs:stewed in stock made with a ham bone dogs yelping over a bone

2the calcified material of which bones consist:an earring of bone
a substance similar to bone such as ivory, dentin, or whalebone.
(often bones) a thing made of, or once made of, such a substance, for example a pair of dice.
the whitish color of bone:the sandals she had dyed bone to match the small purse

3 (bones) the basic or essential framework of something:you need to put some flesh on the bones of your idea

1 [with object] remove the bones from (meat or fish):while the gumbo is simmering, bone the cooked chicken

2 [no object] (bone up on) informal study (a subject) intensively, often in preparation for something:she boned up on languages she had learned long ago and went back to New Guinea

3 [with object] vulgar slang (of a man) have sexual intercourse with (someone).

Phrases

a bag of bones: see bag.
the bare bones: see bare.
be skin and bones: see skin.
a bone of contention: a subject or issue over which there is continuing disagreement:the examination system has long been a serious bone of contention
close to (or near) the bone
cut (or pare) something to the bone: reduce something to the bare minimum:costs will have to be cut to the bone
(as) dry as a bone: see dry.
have a bone to pick with someone: informal have reason to disagree or be annoyed with someone.
have not a —— bone in one's body: (of a person) have not the slightest trace of the specified quality:there’s not a conservative bone in his body
in one's bones: felt, believed, or known deeply or instinctively:he has rhythm in his bones something good was bound to happen; he could feel it in his bones
make no bones about something: have no hesitation in stating or dealing with something, however awkward or distasteful it is:the film is an op-ed piece, and the director makes no bones about its biases
to the bone
throw a bone to: give someone only a token concession:was the true purpose of the minimum wage hike to throw a bone to the unions?
what's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh (or blood): proverb a person’s behavior or characteristics are determined by heredity.
work one's fingers to the bone: work very hard:Tracy can work her fingers to the bone, but it’s Ms. Green who gets the thanks

Old English bān, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch been and German Bein

Definition of bone in the British & World English dictionary