bones

B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun Informal

n. the most important or basic parts of something, like a plan or a house.

n. the essential framework, foundation, or core elements of a project, argument, or physical structure.

“The house is old, but it has good bones and a solid foundation.”

“While the draft is still rough, the bones of a very persuasive legal argument are clearly visible in the opening paragraphs.”

C2 · Proficiency Plural noun Slang

n. a pair of small cubes used for gambling or playing games.

n. a pair of dice used in games of chance; often used in the context of street gambling.

“He spent the evening in the alley rolling the bones with his friends.”

“The old gambler sat in the corner of the tavern, ready to roll the bones against anyone brave enough to bet their wages.”

C2 · Proficiency Plural noun Music Dialect

n. a simple instrument made of two pieces of wood or bone that you click together.

n. a folk percussion instrument consisting of a pair of slightly curved bars held between the fingers and struck together.

“The street performer played the bones while his partner sang a folk song.”

“Traditional rhythm sections in that region often featured a player on the bones to provide a sharp, clicking accompaniment to the fiddle.”