bones
English meaning: Bones
Definition
Bones is the plural of bone, the hard white parts inside the body that make up the skeleton.
Example
“The human body has many bones.”
Another example: “The cold weather makes his old bones ache.”
Usage — When, Where & How
The plural of 'bone', used for the hard skeletal parts in anatomy and everyday speech. Many idioms use it: 'feel it in your bones', 'bone of contention', 'work your fingers to the bone'. Neutral register.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old English 'bān'; the plural adds '-s'.
Synonyms
- finger cymbals
- castanets
- maraca
- clappers
Related Words
- maxilla
- femur
- tibia
- vertebrae
- pelvis
- skull
- cartilage
- bone
- skeleton
- joints
- bony
- fused
Common Collocations
- broken bones
- brittle bones
- skull and bones
- bone of contention
- aching bones
- bones heal
Word Forms
bone (sg); bones (pl); bony (adj)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B