bones Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
   finger cymbals; clappers; castanets.
   
2. noun rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
   os; bone.
   
3. noun the porous calcified substance from which bones are made
   osseous tissue; bone.
   
4. noun a shade of white the color of bleached bones
   pearl; ivory; off-white; bone.
   
5. verb study intensively, as before an exam
   drum; grind away; swot up; bone up; get up; bone; cram; mug up; swot.
   
   • I had to bone up on my Latin verbs before the final exam
6. verb remove the bones from
   debone; bone.
   
   • bone the turkey before roasting it

WordNet