- 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.
- 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.
- the color of bone; ivory or off-white.
- a flat strip of whalebone or other material for stiffening corsets, petticoats, etc.; stay.
- a domino.
- to remove the bones from: to bone a turkey.
- to put whalebone or another stiffener into (clothing).
- to have sexual intercourse with: He was boning his best friend's wife!
- to put bone meal into (feed, fertilizer, etc.).
- completely; absolutely: bone tired.
- to study intensely; cram: We're going to have to bone up for the exam.
- to think or feel intuitively: She felt in her bones that it was going to be a momentous day.
- 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.
- 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
- something consisting of bone or a bonelike substance
- the human skeleton or body
- a thin strip of whalebone, light metal, plastic, etc, used to stiffen corsets and brassieres
- the essentials (esp in the phrase the bare bones)
- dice
- (plural) an informal nickname for a doctor
- close to the bone or near the bone
- risqué or indecent
- in poverty; destitute
- to have an intuition of
- 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)
- to remove the bones from (meat for cooking, etc)
- to stiffen (a corset, etc) by inserting bones
- to fertilize with bone meal
- to have sexual intercourse with
- British a slang word for steal
- a former name of Annaba
