# bones

/ˈboʊnz/ (US) · /bˈəʊnz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bones
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. skeletal parts

noun · CEFR A1

the hard, white pieces that make up the skeleton inside a person or animal.

For teachers: the calcified connective tissue forming the skeleton of vertebrates.

- The dog buried its bones in the garden behind the house.
- Archaeologists discovered the fossilised bones of a prehistoric creature buried deep within the limestone cave system.

### 2. basic structure

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. dice

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. musical instrument

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The dog buried its bones in the garden.
- We have the bones of a good business plan, but we still need to work on the details.
- While the specific decorative elements of the house were dated, the architect noted that the building had good bones and a solid foundation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.