[syn: kernel, substance, core, center, centre, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-gritty]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Marrow \Mar"row\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Marrowed; p. pr. & vb.
n. Marrowing.]
To fill with, or as with, marrow or fat; to glut.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Marrow \Mar"row\, n. [OE. marou, mary, maruh, AS. mearg, mearh;
akin to OS. marg, D. merg, G. Mark, OHG. marg, marag, Icel.
mergr, Sw. merg, Dan. marv, Skr. majjan; cf. Skr. majj to
sink, L. mergere. [root]274 Cf. Merge.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Anat.) The tissue which fills the cavities of most bones;
the medulla. In the larger cavities it is commonly very
fatty, but in the smaller cavities it is much less fatty,
and red or reddish in color.
[1913 Webster]
2. The essence; the best part.
[1913 Webster]
It takes from our achievements . . .
The pith and marrow of our attribute. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. [OE. maru, maro; -- perh. a different word; cf. Gael.
maraon together.] One of a pair; a match; a companion; an
intimate associate. [Scot.]
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Chopping and changing I can not commend,
With thief or his marrow, for fear of ill end.
--Tusser.
[1913 Webster]
Marrow squash (Bot.), a name given to several varieties of
squash, esp. to the Boston marrow, an ovoid fruit,
pointed at both ends, and with reddish yellow flesh, and
to the vegetable marrow, a variety of an ovoid form, and
having a soft texture and fine grain resembling marrow.
Spinal marrow. (Anat.) See Spinal cord, under Spinal.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
marrow
n 1: the fatty network of connective tissue that fills the
cavities of bones [syn: marrow, bone marrow]
2: any of various squash plants grown for their elongated fruit
with smooth dark green skin and whitish flesh [syn: marrow,
marrow squash, vegetable marrow]
3: very tender and very nutritious tissue from marrowbones [syn:
marrow, bone marrow]
4: large elongated squash with creamy to deep green skins [syn:
marrow, vegetable marrow]
5: the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some
idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument";
"the heart and soul of the Republican Party"; "the nub of the
story" [syn: kernel, substance, core, center,
centre, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul,
inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-
gritty]