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

The patient is then infused with healthy stem cells that travel to the bone marrow. —David Armstrong, CNN Money, 10 May 2025

The notion of happiness as choice-making swiftly migrated from economic models into the marrow of the broader culture. —January Lavoy Krish Seenivasan Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 3 May 2025

Don’t let any marrow still attached to the bones or in the strainer go unused! —Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025

The marrow is a nice treat for humans and pets. —Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025

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

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

Rhymes for marrow

• aero
• faro
• garo
• narrow
• pharaoh
• sparrow
• taro
• bolero
• bracero
• estero
• herero
• montero

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