bone marrow

noun

: a soft highly vascular modified connective tissue that occupies the cavities of most bones and occurs in two forms:

a

: one that is yellowish, consists chiefly of fat cells, and is found especially in the cavities of long bones

b

: one that is reddish, is the chief site of blood cell formation, and occurs in the normal adult in cancellous tissue especially of certain flat bones

called also red marrow

Examples of bone marrow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And the third is translational applications in trying to bring these therapies to patients for conditions like sickle cell disease and bone marrow failure disorders. —Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 20 June 2024

After receiving a bone marrow transplant and stem cell donation from her sister, Cali Cole is now three years post-transplant with no complications. —Essence, 19 June 2024

The vlog also shows Isabella’s sweet interaction with a little boy in the hospital who underwent a bone marrow transplant. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 13 June 2024

Cecilia Cortes lives in Coolidge, but after receiving a bone marrow donation from her daughter Gissel Quiroz to help fight her leukemia, going back and forth to the Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert has become cumbersome and expensive for her. —Corina Vanek, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bone marrow

noun

: a soft tissue rich in blood vessels that fills the cavities of most bones and occurs in two forms:

a

: one that is yellowish and fatty and is found especially in long bones (as the femur)

b

: one that is reddish, is the main place where blood cells are formed, and in adults is limited especially to certain flat or short bones (as the ribs)

Medical Definition

bone marrow

noun

: a soft highly vascular modified connective tissue that occupies the cavities and cancellous part of most bones and occurs in two forms:

a

: a whitish or yellowish bone marrow that consists chiefly of fat cells and is found especially in the cavities of the long bones

called also yellow marrow

b

: a reddish bone marrow that contains little fat, is the chief site of red blood cell and blood granulocyte formation, and occurs in the normal adult in cancellous tissue especially of certain flat bones

called also red marrow