WordGarden.iobone
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /bˈəʊn/
US
- /ˈboʊn/
Meanings
Noun
a hard part of the skeleton in a person or animal
Verb
to remove the bones from meat or fish before cooking or serving
(slang)to have sex with someone
Beyond the definition
We tend to think of it as the hard framework inside our bodies—the scaffold that supports our shape and movement. But it also points to the deepest essence of a person or idea. The "bones" of a story, argument, or business plan are its key building blocks. The word adds emotional force in expressions such as "bone-chilling" for extreme cold or "bone-dry" for no trace of moisture. It also appears in "backbone," where it means strength of character and resolve under pressure. In short, it often signals what is essential, solid, and foundational.
The word "bone" usually refers to the hard, compact tissues that make up the skeleton of vertebrates. These structures support the body, protect vital organs, and make movement possible. From the tiny stapes in the middle ear to the massive femur in the thigh, they are the literal framework of the body, helping with protection, balance, and movement. You may hear it in a medical context as in, "The athlete suffered a hairline fracture in his arm bone."
Beyond biology, "bone" has a rich figurative range. It often means the most basic or essential part of something. The "bare bones" of a plan are its simplest and most necessary pieces. A "bone of contention" is the key issue behind a dispute. We also use it for gut-level certainty in phrases like "I know it in my bones."
Historically and idiomatically, "bone" is linked to strength and resilience. To have "backbone" is to possess courage and steady character. A phrase like "to the bone" can describe something felt very deeply, as in "cold to the bone." In cooking, to "bone" fish or poultry means to remove the bones from it. So the word remains highly versatile, covering literal anatomy, essential principles, and vivid figurative meaning.
Examples
- 1
Fish
Be careful with the fish; it still has small bones in it.
- 2
Injury
Luckily, he fell off his bike without breaking any bones.
- 3
Dog
The dog buried a bone in the yard.
- 4
Food preparation
I prefer chicken on the bone because it stays juicy.
- Phraseon the bone
still attached to the bone
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Exhaustion
After moving all day, I was tired to the bone.
- Phraseto the bone
completely; very deeply
- 6
Weather
By August, the garden was bone dry.
- Phrasebone dry
completely dry
- 7
Planning
We only had the bare bones of a plan, but it was enough to start.
- Phrasethe bare bones of + thing
only the most basic parts
- 8
Directness
She made no bones about asking for more money.
- Phrasemake no bones about + thing
say or do it openly
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- bonenounverbadjective
Forms
- bonespluralnounverbadjective
- bonedpast tenseverbnounadjective
- boning-ing formverbnounadjective