bone

Transitive Verb[C/U] Both

pl: bonespp: boneding: boning

This word carries a heavy association with structural integrity and permanence. In a literal sense, it evokes the image of the innermost, hardest part of a body, suggesting strength but also a certain coldness or sterility when associated with death and skeletons. In a figurative sense, it refers to the most essential or stripped-down version of something. This is seen in phrases like "bare bones," where the word indicates the removal of all unnecessary ornamentation to reveal the absolute minimum required for function.

Countable when referring to individual skeletal elements like a rib or a femur. Uncountable when referring to bone as a biological material or tissue.

Meanings

Noun

A hard, rigid structure that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates.

"The X-ray showed a fracture in the leg bone."

Noun

A piece of a skeleton, especially one from an animal, left after the meat is removed.

"The dog chewed on a large bone for hours."

Transitive Verb

[something]

To remove the bones from meat or fish.

"The chef spent an hour boning the salmon."

Last Updated: May 27, 2026•Report an Error