bone up

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.]

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

bone up - study intensively, as before an exam; "I had to bone up on my Latin verbs before the final exam" bone, grind away, mug up, swot, swot up, cram, drum, get up cram - prepare (students) hastily for an impending exam hit the books, study - learn by reading books; "He is studying geology in his room"; "I have an exam next week; I must hit the books now"