marrow
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (5)
- the fatty network of connective tissue that fills the cavities of bonesSynonyms: bone marrowType of connective tissueKinds yellow marrow, red marrowPart of bone, immune system
- any of various squash plants grown for their elongated fruit with smooth dark green skin and whitish fleshSynonyms: marrow squashvegetable marrowType of summer squash, summer squash vineKinds cocozelle, zucchiniParts vegetable marrow
- very tender and very nutritious tissue from marrowbonesSynonyms: bone marrowType of dainty, delicacyPart of marrowbone
- large elongated squash with creamy to deep green skinsSynonyms: vegetable marrowType of summer squashPart of marrow squash, vegetable marrow
- 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”Synonyms: kernelsubstancecorecentercentreessencegistheartheart and soulinwardnessmeatnubpithsumnitty-grittyType of content, cognitive contentKinds stuff, quiddity, bare bones, quintessence, hypostasis
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: 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. √274 Cf. Merge.
1. Anatomy 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.
2. The essence; the best part.
It takes from our achievements... The pith and marrow of our attribute.— William Shakespeare
3. One of a pair; a match; a companion; an intimate associate. Scottish
Chopping and changing I can not commend, With thief or his marrow, for fear of ill end.— Thomas Tusser
Marrow squash Botany, 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. Anatomy See Spinal cord, under Spinal.
To fill with, or as with, marrow or fat; to glut.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54