1. 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.
2. 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.
3. any of various similarly hard or structural animal substances, as ivory or whalebone.
4. something made of or resembling such a substance.
5. 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.
6. bones,
• the skeleton.
• a body: Let his bones rest in peace.
• dice.
• 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.
7. the color of bone; ivory or off-white.
8. a flat strip of whalebone or other material for stiffening corsets, petticoats, etc.; stay.
9. a domino.

10. to remove the bones from: to bone a turkey.
11. to put whalebone or another stiffener into (clothing).
12. to have sexual intercourse with: He was boning his best friend's wife!
13. to put bone meal into (feed, fertilizer, etc.).

14. completely; absolutely: bone tired.

15. to study intensely; cram: We're going to have to bone up for the exam.
16. to think or feel intuitively: She felt in her bones that it was going to be a momentous day.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.

1. any of the various structures that make up the skeleton in most vertebrates
2. 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
3. something consisting of bone or a bonelike substance
4. the human skeleton or body
5. a thin strip of whalebone, light metal, plastic, etc, used to stiffen corsets and brassieres
6. the essentials (esp in the phrase the bare bones)
7. dice
8. (plural) an informal nickname for a doctor
9. close to the bone or near the bone
• risqué or indecent
• in poverty; destitute
10. to have an intuition of
11. to have grounds for a quarrel
12. make no bones about
• to be direct and candid about
• to have no scruples about
13. point the bone (often foll by at) Australian
• to wish bad luck (on)
• to threaten to bring about the downfall (of)

14. to remove the bones from (meat for cooking, etc)
15. to stiffen (a corset, etc) by inserting bones
16. to fertilize with bone meal
17. to have sexual intercourse with
18. British a slang word for steal

1. a former name of Annaba

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