marrow

1 of 2

noun (1)

mar·​row ˈmer-(ˌ)ō 

ˈma-(ˌ)rō

1

a

: bone marrow

b

: the substance of the spinal cord

2

a

: the choicest of food

b

: the seat of animal vigor

c

: the inmost, best, or essential part : core

personal liberty is the marrow of the American tradition

—Clinton Rossiter

3

chiefly British : vegetable marrow

marrowy

ˈmer-ə-wē 

ˈma-rə-

adjective

marrow

2 of 2

noun (2)

chiefly Scotland

: one of a pair

Phrases

to the marrow

: very deeply : very much : completely and thoroughly

I was wet and chilled to the marrow, till I felt more dead than alive.

—Jack London

Examples of marrow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

These cuts could have resulted from efforts to get marrow and other tissues from the bones for dietary or practical uses. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Sep. 2023

While any bones will work, the bones with meat, marrow, and connective tissue still clinging to them are a great choice. —Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 3 Aug. 2023

She’s been a survivor who knows the marrow and fullness of the word. —Rita Omokha, ELLE, 14 July 2023

Since most of these stem cells reside in the bone marrow, the easiest way to access them is through a bone marrow aspiration, a painful and invasive procedure in which doctors puncture a portion of the hip bone to reach the marrow. —Alice Park, Time, 18 Aug. 2023

The three roughly one-hundred-page novellas—each narrated in sparse staccato clips—take the form of adult Encyclopedia Brown mysteries, systematically resolved and feeding on the marrow from their progenitor. —Lawrence Jackson, Harper's Magazine, 10 July 2023

Karametos sources his beef from farms in northern Montgomery County, and his custom blend, like Burger & Beyond’s, includes marrow. —Tim Carman, Washington Post, 14 June 2023

Cameron, then 6, had an immune system compromised first by severe aplastic anemia and then by the marrow transplant. —Dave Kallmann, Journal Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2023

Benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness and headaches, and can eventually cause harmful effects on the bone marrow and a decrease in red blood cells. —Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 22 Apr. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English marowe, from Old English mearg; akin to Old High German marag marrow, Sanskrit majjan

Noun (2)

Middle English marwe, marrow

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1516, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing marrow

• chilled to the bone/marrow
• red marrow
• vegetable marrow
• bone marrow
• to the marrow

• chilled to the bone/marrow
• red marrow
• vegetable marrow
• bone marrow
• to the marrow

Kids Definition

marrow

noun

mar·​row

ˈmar-ō

1

a

: bone marrow

b

: the substance of the spinal cord

2

: the innermost, best, or essential part : core

Medical Definition

marrow

noun

mar·​row ˈmar-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w) 

1

: bone marrow

2

: the substance of the spinal cord