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

The reality star said he was then diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a slow-growing bone marrow cancer. —Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024

On Wednesday, Turner told People magazine that he was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in March, which greatly impacted his decision to get a divorce from Theresa Nist. —Janelle Ash, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024

After sharing his blood disorder with Nist, Turner underwent additional testing, including a bone marrow biopsy, which is when his diagnosis was confirmed. —Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2024

Gerry Turner, the septuagenarian who starred on the premiere season of The Golden Bachelor, revealed in a new interview that he was diagnosed with a form of bone marrow cancer earlier this year, a diagnosis that contributed to his divorce from Theresa Nist, the winner of the reality dating series. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 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