marrow

1 of 2

noun (1)

mar·​row ˈmer-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce marrow (audio)
ˈma-(ˌ)rō
1
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 traditionClinton Rossiter
3
chiefly British : vegetable marrow
marrowy
ˈmer-ə-wē How to pronounce marrow (audio)
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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'marrow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of marrow was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near marrow

Cite this Entry

“Marrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marrow. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

marrow

noun
mar·​row
ˈmar-ō
1
b
: the substance of the spinal cord
2
: the innermost, best, or essential part : core

Medical Definition

marrow

noun
1
2
: the substance of the spinal cord
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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