marrow

Noun
US[mer-oh]/ˈmɛroʊ/2 syllables

Open English WordNet

Noun (5)

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. very tender and very nutritious tissue from marrowbonesSynonyms: bone marrowType of dainty, delicacyPart of marrowbone
  4. large elongated squash with creamy to deep green skinsSynonyms: vegetable marrowType of summer squashPart of marrow squash, 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”Synonyms: kernelsubstancecorecentercentreessencegistheartheart and soulinwardnessmeatnubpithsumnitty-grittyType of content, cognitive contentKinds stuff, quiddity, bare bones, quintessence, hypostasis
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insipidadjective

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Mar′row noun

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.


Mar′row transitive verb [past tense & past participle Marrowed; present participle & verbal noun Marrowing.]

To fill with, or as with, marrow or fat; to glut.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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