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A Writer's Dictionary:

boning Definition


Dictionary Home » Words Starting with B » bombastic ... book end » boning


bone
noun
    1. The hard dense tissue that forms the skeleton of vertebrates, providing structural support for the body and serving as an attachment for muscles.
    2. Any of the components of the skeleton, made of this material.
    3. The skeleton.
      Form: bones
    4. The body as the place where feelings or instincts come from.
      Example: I feel in my bones something is wrong
      Form: one's bones (chiefly)
    5. A substance similar to human bone, such as ivory and whalebone, etc.
    6. The basic or essential part.
      Form: bones
verb boned, boning
    1. To take bone out of (meat, etc).
    2. To make (a piece of clothing, eg a corset or bodice) stiff by adding strips of bone or some other hard substance.
Derivative: boned
    Having bones.
    Said of meat, etc: having the bones removed.
Derivative: boneless
adj
    Lacking bones; having the bones removed.
Idiom: have a bone to pick with someone
    To have something to disagree or argue about with them.
Idiom: make no bones about something
    To admit or allow it without any fuss, bother or hesitation.
    To be quite willing to say or do it openly.
Idiom: near the bone (close to the bone)
    Referring too closely to a subject which it would have been kind or tactful to avoid; upsettingly pointed or critical.
    Rather indecent or risqué.
Idiom: to the bone
    Thoroughly and completely.
      Example: I was chilled to the bone
    To the minimum.
      Example: cut my living expenses to the bone
Idiom: work one's fingers to the bone
    To work very hard, until one is worn out.
Etymology: Anglo-Saxon ban.

Phrasal Verb: bone up on something
    To learn or collect information about (a subject).


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