the hard, whitish structures that make up the skeleton in a human or animal body, the skeletal framework of an animal's body, especially when it has been stripped of flesh or skin, the essential or most important part of something

make no bones about something, feel it in one's bones, bone of contention

Formal and Informal Expressions of bones

In different contexts, you can replace 'bones' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'skeleton, structure' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'remains' is a commonplace synonym.

bones: Explore its Definition & Usage

bones Definition

1the hard, whitish structures that make up the skeleton in a human or animal body
2the skeletal framework of an animal's body, especially when it has been stripped of flesh or skin
3the essential or most important part of something

Using bones: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "bones" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The dog buried the bone in the backyard.
Example
The archaeologist uncovered the bones of a dinosaur.
Example
The novel's bones are strong, but the plot needs work.

bones Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for bones

Phrases with bones

make no bones about something
to speak frankly and directly about something, without trying to hide one's opinion or feelings
Example
He made no bones about his dislike for the new policy.
feel it in one's bones
to have a strong intuition or feeling about something
Example
I feel it in my bones that something bad is going to happen.
bone of contention
a subject or issue over which there is continuing disagreement or dispute
Example
The ownership of the land was the bone of contention between the two families.

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Summary: bones in Brief

The term 'bones' [bohnz] refers to the hard, whitish structures that make up the skeleton in a human or animal body. It can also refer to the skeletal framework of an animal's body, or the essential or most important part of something. Phrases like 'make no bones about something' and 'feel it in one's bones' are idiomatic expressions that convey directness and intuition, respectively.