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noun Uncommon

marrow

MA-roh

Marrow (noun) means the soft, fatty tissue inside bones that produces blood cells. Example: “Doctors took a sample of bone marrow to check for the disease.”

noun
1
The soft, fatty tissue inside bones that produces blood cells.
"Doctors took a sample of bone marrow to check for the disease."
2
A large, mild-flavoured vegetable related to squash and courgette.
"She stuffed the marrow with rice and herbs before baking it."
3
The essential or most important part of something.
"His speech got right to the marrow of the argument."

How to use marrow

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe substance inside bones, a type of large squash-like vegetable, or figuratively, the core essence of something.

Common pairings
bone marrow to the marrow stuffed marrow

Word forms

marrows plural, marrows plural, Marrows plural

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Doctors took a sample of bone _____ to check for the disease.

Etymology

From Old English "mearg," related to German "Mark" and ultimately to a very old Indo-European word also behind the Russian and Polish words for "brain."

Origin: Old English

Related words

Rhymes for marrow

See all rhymes for marrow →

Frequently asked questions

What does “marrow” mean?

The word “marrow” means the soft, fatty tissue inside bones that produces blood cells. In plain terms, the substance inside bones, a type of large squash-like vegetable, or figuratively, the core essence of something.

How do you pronounce “marrow”?

“Marrow” is pronounced MA-roh (/ˈmæɹəʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “marrow” in a sentence?

Here is “marrow” used in a sentence: “Doctors took a sample of bone marrow to check for the disease.”

What part of speech is “marrow”?

“Marrow” is a noun.

Where does the word “marrow” come from?

The word “marrow” comes from Old English. From Old English "mearg," related to German "Mark" and ultimately to a very old Indo-European word also behind the Russian and Polish words for "brain.".

Is “marrow” a common word?

“Marrow” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “marrow” have?

“Marrow” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the soft, fatty tissue inside bones that produces blood cells.

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