释义 |
bone I. \ˈbōn\ noun (-s) Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English boon, bon, from Old English bān; akin to Old High German & Old Norse bein bone 1. a. : one of the hard parts of the skeleton of a vertebrate < shoulder bone > < the bones of the arm > — compare cartilage b. : any of various hard animal substances or structures akin to or resembling bone (as baleen, ivory, the internal calcareous shell of the cuttlefish) c. : the hard tissue of which the adult skeleton of most vertebrates is largely composed, being a dense form of connective tissue, hard and rigid from its inorganic matter of chiefly calcium phosphate, and being externally of compact tissue covered except on the articular surfaces with a fibrous coat of vascular connective tissue and internally porous and containing cavities of various sizes — see bone cell, canaliculus, haversian canal, lamella, ossification, periosteum 2. : essence, core < chilled to the bone > < lying was in his very bones > < cut expenses to the bone > 3. bones plural a. (1) : the skeleton < reduced to skin and bones by hunger > or other framework resembling a skeleton < vessels lost on the lakes, many of whose bones are still … along the shores — American Guide Series: Michigan > (2) : body < running as fast as his old bones would carry him > (3) : the more enduring parts of a dead body : mortal remains < inter a person's bones > b. : the essential design or framework (as of a story, novel, picture, or other work of art) 4. : matter, subject < a bone of contention > 5. : something originally or usually made of bone: as a. bones plural : thin bars of bone, ivory, or wood held in pairs between the fingers and used to produce musical rhythms : clappers, knackers b. : a strip of whalebone, steel, featherbone, or plastic inserted into a casing to stiffen a garment (as a corset or dress) c. bones plural : dice d. : domino 6. : the bow wave of a ship when under way or especially when traveling at good speed — usually used with the phrase in her teeth < the ship all sails set, was roaring along with a bone in her teeth > 7. bones plural but singular in construction, often capitalized : an end man in a minstrel show who often performs on the bones — compare tambo 8. a. : a layer or fragments of shale, slate, or other rock in a coal seam or in coal b. or bone coal : slaty coal often of such a high ash content that it cannot be used in the ordinary ways : carboniferous shale — called also bony, slate 9. slang : dollar • - bone to pick II. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English bonen, from bon, boon, n. transitive verb 1. : to remove the bones from < bone a fish > < bone a turkey > < the ribs can be boned out and the meat rolled for roasting > 2. : to provide (a garment) with stays < bone a corset > < a boned camisole > 3. : to rub (as a boot) with a piece of bone in order to remove scratches and smooth the surface 4. : to sight along (an object or set of objects, as rods or sticks) to arrive at a straight line or ascertain a level intransitive verb 1. : to study hard or ploddingly : grind < bone away at premedical courses > < boning through law school > 2. : to attempt to master necessary or required information in a short time (as in preparation for an examination) : cram — usually used with up < bone up on a problem > < bone up on Latin > — compare swot III. adverb Etymology: bone (I) (as in bone-dry, bone-tired) : extremely < a bone lazy fellow > : absolutely < a novel bone clean of sentimentality > : utterly < he gets bone tired and edgy — S.E.Fletcher > : desperately < bone poor > < the poor are bone hungry — Margaret Shedd > |