Marrow Meaning
/ˈmæɹəʊ/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe substance inside bones which produces blood cells.
nounA kind of vegetable similar to a large courgette, zucchini or squash; the mature fruit of certain Cucurbita pepo cultivars.
Sentence Examples
She loves bone marrow.
She needs a bone marrow transplant, but she has not found a donor yet.
The spectre's voice disturbed the very marrow in his bones.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The doctor extracted bone ____ from the donor for the critical transplant.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The bone ____ is responsible for producing blood cells and is an essential part of the human body today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English mary, marow, marwe, marowȝ, from Old English mearg, from Proto-West Germanic *maʀg, from Proto-Germanic *mazgą, *mazgaz, from Proto-Indo-European *mosgʰos. Compare West Frisian moarch, Dutch merg, German Mark, Swedish märg, Icelandic mergur, and also Russian мозг (mozg, “brain”), Polish mózg (“brain”), Ashkun amōźã, Kamkata-viri muč, muj, Waigali muj, Persian مغز (maġz, “brain”), Sanskrit मज्जन् (majján). Doublet of maghaz.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear."
— 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter III (Accessory After the Fact), page 382, column 1:
"Chop me up, I like to be hurt / Drink my marrow and blood for dessert"
— 2004, “Eaten”, in Nightmares Made Flesh, performed by Bloodbath:
"The finest European vegetables, cabbages, cauliflowers, potatoes, vegetable marrow, were lying in the market-hall, awaiting purchasers."
— 1847, Sir Robert Hermann Schomburgk, “Steam-Boat Voyage to Barbados”, in Bentley's Miscellany, volume XXII, London: Richard Bentley, page 37:
"It takes from our achievements[…]/ The pith and marrow of our attribute."
— c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
"I cannot commend , with theefe of his marrow, for feare of ill end"
— 1557 February 13 (Gregorian calendar), Thomas Tusser, A Hundreth Good Pointes of Husbandrie, London: […] Richard Tottel, →OCLC; republished London: […] Robert Triphook, […], and William Sancho, […], 1810, →OCLC:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The doctor extracted bone ____ from the donor for the critical transplant.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The bone ____ is responsible for producing blood cells and is an essential part of the human body today.