[bone] n, often attrib [ME bon, fr. OE ban; akin to OHG & ON bein bone, and perh. to OIr benaid he hews] (bef. 12c) 1 a: one of the hard parts of the skeleton of a vertebrate b: any of various hard animal substances or structures (as baleen or ivory) akin to or resembling bone c: the hard largely calcareous connective tissue of which the adult skeleton of most vertebrates is chiefly composed
2. a: essence, core "cut costs to the ~" "a liberal to the ~" b: the most deeply ingrained part: heart--usu. used in pl. "knew in his ~s that it was wrong" 3 pl a (1): skeleton (2): body "rested my weary ~s" (3): corpse "inter a person's ~s" b: the basic design or framework (as of a play or novel)
4: matter, subject "a ~ of contention"
5. a pl: thin bars of bone, ivory, or wood held in pairs between the fingers and used to produce musical rhythms b: a strip of whalebone or steel used to stiffen a corset or dress c pl: dice
6: something that is designed to placate: sop 7: a light beige -- boned adj -- bone.less adj -- bone to pick : a matter to argue or complain about
[2]bone vb boned ; bon.ing vt (15c) 1: to remove the bones from "~ a fish"
2: to provide (a garment) with stays ~ vi: to study hard: grind "~ through medical school" [3]bone adv (ca. 1825): extremely, very "~ tired"; also: totally