bone of contention

bone  (bn)

n.

1.

a. The dense, semirigid, porous, calcified connective tissue forming the major portion of the skeleton of most vertebrates. It consists of a dense organic matrix and an inorganic, mineral component.

b. Any of numerous anatomically distinct structures making up the skeleton of a vertebrate animal. There are more than 200 different bones in the human body.

c. A piece of bone.

2. bones

a. The skeleton.

b. The body.

c. Mortal remains.

3. An animal structure or material, such as ivory, resembling bone.

4. Something made of bone or of material resembling bone, especially:

a. A piece of whalebone or similar material used as a corset stay.

b. bones Informal Dice.

5. bones The fundamental plan or design, as of the plot of a book.

6.

a. bones Flat clappers made of bone or wood originally used by the end man in a minstrel show.

b. Bones (used with a sing. verb) The end man in a minstrel show.

tr.v. boned, bon·ing, bones

1. To remove the bones from.

2. To stiffen (a piece of clothing) with stays, as of whalebone.

Phrasal Verb:

bone up

Informal To study intensely, usually at the last minute: boned up for the final exam.

Idioms:

bone of contention

The subject of a dispute.

bone to pick

Grounds for a complaint or dispute.

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[Middle English bon, from Old English bn.]

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bone of contention

n

the grounds or subject of a dispute

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

bone of contention - the subject of a dispute; "the real bone of contention, as you know, is money" subject, theme, topic - the subject matter of a conversation or discussion; "he didn't want to discuss that subject"; "it was a very sensitive topic"; "his letters were always on the theme of love"

Translations

bone of contention n → pomo della discordia