marrow

¹

[ mar-oh ]

noun

1. Anatomy. a soft, fatty, vascular tissue in the interior cavities of bones that is a major site of blood cell production.
2. the inmost or essential part:

   to pierce to the marrow of a problem.

3. strength or vitality:

   Fear took the marrow out of him.

4. rich and nutritious food.
5. Chiefly British. vegetable marrow.

marrow

²

[ mar-oh; Scots mar-uh ]

noun

, Scot. and North England.

1. a partner; fellow worker.
2. a spouse; helpmate.
3. a companion; close friend.

marrow

¹

/ ˈmærəʊ /

noun

1. the fatty network of connective tissue that fills the cavities of bones
2. the vital part; essence
3. vitality
4. rich food
5. short for vegetable marrow

marrow

²

/ ˈmærəʊ; -rə /

noun

1. dialect.
   a companion, esp a workmate

marrow

/ măr′ō /

1. See bone marrow

marrow

1. The soft, specialized connective tissue that fills the cavities of bones. One kind of bone marrow is responsible for manufacturing red blood cells in the body.

Derived Forms

• ˈmarrowy, adjective

Other Words From

• mar·row·ish adjective
• mar·row·less adjective
• mar·row·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of marrow¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English marw(e), marwa, Old English mearg, merg; cognate with Dutch merg, German Mark, Old Norse mergr

Origin of marrow²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English marwe, maro(we), “fellow worker, partner,” perhaps from Old Norse margr “many; friendly”

Word History and Origins

Origin of marrow¹

Old English mærg; related to Old Frisian merg, Old Norse mergr

Origin of marrow²

C15 marwe fellow worker, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic margr friendly

Example Sentences

The two-year-old, who was found under a pile of blankets with “traumatic injuries from head to toe” on 30 June 2023, officially died from a bone marrow embolism as a consequence of skeletal trauma.

From BBC

As he, his wife Melissa and his doctors figured out his treatment plan, he was relieved to learn that the cancer had not spread to his bone marrow.

From Los Angeles Times

And if you paid attention to his chats, this election's outcome may not have shocked you quite as much even as it may frighten you to the marrow.

From Salon

Angela's daughter Johanna had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia, a type of cancer which affects the white blood cells and bone marrow, at just 16 years old.

From BBC

“As doctors, particularly at a time we were trying to understand her bone marrow tests, it meant we had an explanation and knew what to do about it,” said Dr Kivuva.

From BBC