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bone

(bōn)

a. The dense, semirigid, porous, calcified connective tissue forming the major portion of the skeleton of most vertebrates. It consists of a dense organic matrix and an inorganic, mineral component.

b. Any of numerous anatomically distinct structures making up the skeleton of a vertebrate animal. There are more than 200 different bones in the human body.

c. A piece of bone.

2. bones

a. The skeleton.

b. The body: These old bones don't do much dancing anymore.

c. Mortal remains: His bones are buried up on the hill.

3. An animal structure or material, such as ivory, resembling bone.

4. Something made of bone or of material resembling bone, especially:

a. A piece of whalebone or similar material used as a corset stay.

b. bones Informal Dice.

5. bones The fundamental plan or design, as of the plot of a book.

a. bones Flat clappers made of bone or wood originally used by the end man in a minstrel show.

b. Bones (used with a sing. verb) The end man in a minstrel show.

7. Vulgar Slang The penis.

v. boned, bon·ing, bones

v.tr.

1. To remove the bones from: bone a fish.

2. To stiffen (a piece of clothing) with stays, as of whalebone.

3. Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse with. Used especially of a man.

v.intr.

Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse.

Phrasal Verb:

bone up

Informal To study, often in preparation for an anticipated event: boned up for the final exam.

Idioms:

bone of contention

The subject of a dispute.

bone to pick

Grounds for a complaint or dispute.

in (one's) bones

In one's innermost feelings: knew in my bones that I was wrong.

to the bone

To an extreme degree: was chilled to the bone; cut the budget to the bone.

[Middle English bon, from Old English bān.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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