■ noun
1》 spongy white tissue lining the rind of citrus fruits.
↘ Botany the spongy cellular tissue in the stems and branches of many higher plants.
↘ archaic spinal marrow.
2》 the true nature or essence: the ~ and core of socialism.
3》 vigorous and concise expression.
■ verb
1》 remove the ~ from.
2》 kill or immobilize (an animal) by piercing or severing the spinal cord.
Derivatives
~less adjective
Origin
OE ~a , of W. Gmc origin.