bone
I
 /ˈboʊn/  noun  ,  pl   bones
  1 [  count  ] : any one of the hard pieces that form the frame (called a skeleton) inside a person's or animal's body
   He broke a bone in his left arm.
   The leg bone is connected to the knee bone.
  — sometimes used figuratively
   He doesn't have a selfish/jealous bone in his body. [=he is not selfish/jealous at all]
   My bones are aching from working in the garden.
   My aching bones! [=my body is tired and sore]
   I'll be glad to have a chance to rest my weary bones.
   He knew in his bones [=knew in his heart; had a strong feeling] that he was wrong.
   She felt in her bones [=she sensed very strongly] that nothing had changed.
  see also bag of bones, bare bones, funny bone
  2 [  noncount  ] : the hard material that bones are made of
   a piece of bone
   We are all made of flesh and bone.
   The handle of the knife is made from bone.
  bone of contention — see contention
  bone to pick
    informal   : something to argue or complain about with someone
    — usually + with
    I have a bone to pick with you!
   
  bred in the bone — see breed, 1
  close to the bone — see close, 2
  make no bones about
   : to be very sure and definite about (something)
    Make no bones about the seriousness of the matter.
    He made no bones about his plans to cut expenses.
    Make no bones about it–we will win.
  off the bone
   : with the meat removed from the bone or bones
    The pork is served off the bone.
  on the bone
   : with the meat connected to the bone or bones
    The ham was on the bone.
  skin and bones — see skin, 1
  throw (someone) a bone
    informal   : to offer (someone) something that is not very important or valuable especially to stop complaints or protests
    The boss would not let his workers out early for the holiday but threw them a bone by buying lunch.
  to the bone
   1 : very much
    We were frozen to the bone. [=we were very cold]
    The threatening look in his eyes chilled me to the bone. [=made me feel very fearful]
   2 : as much as possible
    The company has cut costs to the bone in an effort to save money.
  work your fingers to the bone — see finger, 1
  bone·less /ˈboʊnləs/  adj  
   boneless ham [=ham from which the bone has been removed]
   The chicken breast is boneless.
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II
  verb  , bones, boned, bon·ing [  + obj  ]
  : to remove the bones from (a fish or meat) : debone
   bone a fish
   bone a chicken breast
  bone up [  phrasal verb  ]
     informal  
   1 : to try to learn a lot of information quickly for a test, exam, etc.
    She boned up [=crammed] for the exam.
   2 : to study something again
    He's going to bone up the night before the test.
    — usually + on
    She boned up on the speech just before giving it.
    I have to bone up on [=brush up on] my French for my trip.
   
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III
  adv  , always used before an adjective
  : extremely or very : completely or totally
   bone tired/lazy/idle
   The air is bone dry.
  — often used in combination
   a bone-dry desert climate