1. (used in the plural) 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 in rhythm with the dance, as used by Spanish dancers
   "The flamenco dancer skilfully played the bones during her performance";
   - castanets, clappers

1. Rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
   "The bone of the skull protects the brain";
   - os[2]
    
2. The porous calcified substance from which bones are made
   "bone provides structural support for the body";
   - osseous tissue
    
3. A shade of white the colour of bleached bones
   "They chose a bone colour for the living room walls to create a warm, inviting atmosphere";
   - ivory, pearl, off-white

1. Remove the bones from
   "bone the turkey before roasting it";
   - debone
    
2. [informal] Study intensively, as before an exam
   "I had to bone up on my Latin verbs before the final exam";
   - cram [informal], grind away, bone up [informal], swot [Brit, informal], mug up [Brit, informal], swot up [Brit, informal], revise [Brit]
    
3. [vulgar] (of a man) have sexual intercourse with
   "he boasted he was going to bone his first date";

Type of: animal material, connective tissue, hit the books [informal], percussion instrument, percussive instrument, remove, study, take, take away, white, whiteness, withdraw

Part of: endoskeleton, horn

Encyclopedia: Bones, Robert