bone
bone
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "bone" is /boʊn/.
boʊn: /boʊn/ (one syllable)
/b/: voiced bilabial stop
/oʊ/: diphthong (as in "boat")
/n/: voiced alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: bone
Plural Noun: bones
Verb (base form): bone
Verb (third-person singular present): bones
Verb (present participle): boning
Verb (past tense/past participle): boned
Adjective: bony (describing something having prominent bones or being thin)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: Any of the hard, rigid forms of connective tissue that constitute most of the skeleton of vertebrates. These structures provide support, protection for organs, and serve as attachment points for muscles, enabling movement.
Synonyms: skeletal element, os (technical)
Antonyms: flesh, muscle, cartilage (in the context of being a different type of body tissue)
Definition 2: A piece of a dead animal's skeleton, often found after the flesh has decomposed or been removed, or used as a tool, ornament, or food item.
Synonyms: relic, remains, shard (if broken)
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms for this specific sense, as it refers to a physical object)
Definition 3 (Informal): The essential or fundamental structure or core of something; the very essence or basis.
Synonyms: core, essence, heart, foundation, framework
Antonyms: superficiality, periphery, facade
Verb
Definition 1: To remove the bones from meat, poultry, or fish, typically in preparation for cooking or consumption.
Synonyms: de-bone, fillet (for fish)
Antonyms: (no direct antonym, as it describes a specific action; perhaps "leave intact" in a general sense)
Definition 2 (Slang/Informal, sometimes vulgar): To have sexual intercourse with someone. (Note: This usage is highly informal and can be offensive in some contexts.)
Synonyms: copulate, screw (vulgar), have sex with
Antonyms: (no direct antonym for this slang usage)
Definition 3 (Archaic/Obsolete): To prepare something by stiffening it with whalebone or similar material. (Less common in modern usage.)
Synonyms: stiffen, reinforce
Antonyms: soften, relax
Adjective (from "bony")
Definition: Having prominent or visible bones due to thinness; lean to the point of showing the skeletal structure.
Synonyms: gaunt, skinny, emaciated, scrawny, skeletal
Antonyms: plump, fleshy, robust, well-fed
Examples of Use
Books:
"He felt the cold, hard bone of the desk against his knuckles as he gripped it tightly, trying to regain control." (Fictional novel, e.g., The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles, though this is a constructed example)
"The paleontologist meticulously cleaned each fossilized bone, piecing together the ancient creature's history." (A nonfiction book about dinosaurs, e.g., Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond often uses such descriptive language when discussing human origins, though this is a specific example constructed for "bone")
Newspapers:
"New archaeological discoveries suggest that early humans used animal bones as tools for hunting and foraging." (Headline or article excerpt from a major newspaper, e.g., The New York Times)
"The dog warden advised owners to avoid giving cooked bones to their pets, as they can splinter and cause internal injuries." (Local newspaper's pet advice column, e.g., The Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Chef John demonstrates how to properly bone a chicken for a more even roast in his latest YouTube tutorial." (Food blog or recipe website, e.g., Allrecipes.com or Serious Eats)
"Activists claim the proposed legislation has no bones, meaning it lacks any real power to address the issue." (Opinion piece on a political news website, e.g., The Guardian Online)
"The article gets to the bone of the matter, highlighting the fundamental flaws in the economic policy." (Analytical piece on an economic news site, e.g., Bloomberg.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film/TV: (A character in a medical drama, examining an X-ray): "It looks like a clean break, but we'll need to set the bone carefully." (e.g., Grey's Anatomy, House)
Music (Song Lyrics): "Every bone in my body tells me to stay, but my mind is urging me to run." (Figurative usage in a song, e.g., a pop or rock ballad)
Video Games: (A quest description in an RPG): "Collect five wolf bones from the Direwolf Den to craft the new armor." (e.g., The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, World of Warcraft)
Podcast: "Our guest today will discuss the spiritual significance of ancestral bones in various indigenous cultures." (A cultural or historical podcast, e.g., Stuff You Should Know)
General Public Discourse:
"My dog loves to chew on a good bone." (Common conversation among pet owners)
"I'm so tired, I feel it in my bones." (Figurative expression of deep fatigue or premonition)
"Let's get to the bones of contention in this debate." (Used in discussions to refer to the core disagreements)
"That was a really difficult exam; it picked my brain to the bone." (Figurative expression for an extremely challenging mental effort)
10 Famous Quotes Using Bone
"The very bones of my body seem to cry out against it." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)
"Give a dog a bad name and hang him; give a dog a good bone and he'll bite you." (Mark Twain, attributed)
"The optimist sees the doughnut, the pessimist sees the hole. The realist eats the doughnut." (Oscar Wilde, sometimes attributed with an addition: "...and throws the bone to the dog.")
"I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told, I have squandered my resistance, for a pocket full of mumbles, such are promises. All I feel are the bones of the past." (Paul Simon, "The Boxer")
"Every bone in my body says, 'Stay,' but my heart says, 'Go.'" (Often used proverbially, various attributions)
"He who has a good bone in his mouth never barks." (Italian Proverb)
"Let's not make a bone of contention out of this." (Common idiom, origin unknown)
"My body is a bone cage for my soul." (Frequently found in poetry and introspective writing, no single famous attribution)
"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there. But the bones of the past are still within us." (Paraphrased from L.P. Hartley's The Go-Between, extending the metaphor)
"A wet bone is better than a dry one." (Often attributed to fishermen or those seeking practical comfort)
Etymology
The word "bone" has a long history, going back thousands of years.
Imagine tracing it back like a family tree:
At its core, "bone" comes from a very old word in Proto-Germanic (the ancestor of languages like English, German, and Dutch) which was something like *bainą. This word simply meant "bone."
Before that, linguists believe it might have come from an even older root in Proto-Indo-European (a language that was spoken even earlier and is the ancestor of many European and Indian languages). This root was *bʰeyh₂-, and it seems to have meant something like "to hit, strike, or beat." It's thought that this could refer to how bones might have been broken or shaped, or perhaps their straightness (as *bainaz is also linked to "straight").
When was it first used in English?
The word "bone" as we know it has been around in English since the Old English period (before 1150 AD). Its first known meaning was exactly what we understand today: "bone, tusk, or the hard animal tissue that forms the skeleton." So, even way back then, if someone said "bone," they were talking about the rigid parts that make up a body's framework, just like we do now.
Over time, the word developed other meanings, like referring to dice (because they were often made from animal knucklebones), or the core framework of an idea, but its fundamental meaning of the skeletal structure has remained constant since its earliest days in English.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bone
A bone of contention: A subject or issue over which there is disagreement.
To the bone: Thoroughly or completely; to the utmost extent.
Feel it in one's bones: To have a strong intuition or premonition about something.
Have a bone to pick with someone: To have a grievance or complaint that needs to be discussed.
Dry as a bone: Extremely dry.
Bare bones: The most essential or basic parts of something.
Bone up (on something): To study something intensely, usually in preparation for an exam or task.
Bone idle: Extremely lazy.
Work one's fingers to the bone: To work extremely hard.
No bones about it: To be direct and straightforward; to not hesitate or conceal anything.
Make no bones about it: Same as "no bones about it."
Chilled to the bone: Extremely cold.
Not a dry bone in one's body: Soaking wet.
Throw a bone: To offer a small concession or favor to someone, often to appease them.
Close to the bone: Uncomfortably true or direct; also, having very little money.
Cut to the bone: To reduce something to its absolute minimum.
Suck the marrow out of life: To live life to the fullest (using "marrow" as a part of the bone).
Skin and bones: Extremely thin; emaciated.
Give a dog a bone: To provide a small reward or treat.
Bone-tired: Extremely tired.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bone from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
