bone

¹bone

noun, often attributive \ˈbōn\

Definition of BONE

1

a : one of the hard parts of the skeleton of a vertebrate b : any of various hard animal substances or structures (as baleen or ivory) akin to or resembling bone c : the hard largely calcareous connective tissue of which the adult skeleton of most vertebrates is chiefly composed

2

a : essence, core <cut costs to the bone> <a liberal to the bone> b : the most deeply ingrained part : heart —usually used in plural <knew in his bones that it was wrong>

3

plural a (1) : skeleton (2) : body <rested my weary bones> (3) : corpse <inter a person's bones> b : the basic design or framework (as of a play or novel)

4

: matter, subject <a bone of contention>

5

a plural : thin bars of bone, ivory, or wood held in pairs between the fingers and used to produce musical rhythms b : a strip of material (as whalebone or steel) used to stiffen a garment (as a corset) c plural : dice

6

: something that is designed to placate : sop

7

: a light beige

8

: inclination 1b <hadn't a political bone in his body — John Hersey>

9

slang : dollar

— boned \ˈbōnd\ adjective

— bone·less \ˈbōn-ləs\ adjective

— bone to pick

: a matter to argue or complain about

Examples of BONE

1. He broke a bone in his left arm.
2. The leg bone is connected to the knee bone.
3. We are all made of flesh and bone.
4. The handle of the knife is made from bone.

Origin of BONE

Middle English bon, from Old English bān; akin to Old High German & Old Norse bein bone, and perhaps to Old Irish benaid he hews

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to BONE

Synonyms: affection, affinity, aptitude, bent, bias, inclination, devices, disposition, genius, habitude, impulse, leaning, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, tendency, turn

Related Words: favor, one-sidedness, partisanship, prejudice; endowment, faculty, flair, genius, gift, knack, talent; addiction, appetite, fancy, fondness, like, liking, preference, taste; forte, speciality, specialty; convention, custom, habit, pattern, practice (also practise), routine, trick, way, wont; eccentricity, idiosyncrasy, kink, oddity, peculiarity, quirk, singularity

Near Antonyms: allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disrelish, distaste; detachment, impartiality, neutrality, objectivity; apathy, disinterestedness, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

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