bone-meal
Definition
- Noun (mass noun):
- Crushed or ground bones: "bone-meal" refers to a substance made from animal bones that have been crushed or ground into a coarse powder. It is primarily used as a fertilizer to provide phosphorus and calcium to plants.
Usage Examples
- (Fertilizer from ground bones.)
- (Natural soil amendment.)
Advanced Usage
"Bone-meal as a supplement": In some contexts, bone-meal is also used as a dietary supplement for animals or humans, providing calcium and other minerals.
- Some pet owners mix bone-meal into their dog's food to support bone health. (Nutritional additive.)
"Steamed bone-meal": A processed form where bones are steamed to remove fats and gelatin before grinding, resulting in a finer, more concentrated product.
- Steamed bone-meal is less likely to attract pests than raw bone-meal. (Refined fertilizer.)
Variants and Related Words
Bonemeal (n): alternative spelling, often used interchangeably with "bone-meal."
- The bag of bonemeal was labeled as 100% organic. (Same meaning.)
Bone dust (n): a very fine powder produced from grinding bones, sometimes used synonymously but less common in agricultural contexts.
- The workshop had bone dust from carving tools. (Fine bone particles.)
Synonyms
- Ground bone: crushed bones used as fertilizer.
- Bone fertilizer: a term emphasizing its agricultural use.
- Phosphate fertilizer: a broader category that includes bone-meal as a source of phosphorus.
Related Idioms
- "To make no bones about something": This idiom does NOT derive from "bone-meal" but is worth noting: it means to be direct or straightforward.
- She made no bones about her dislike for the plan. (She was honest and blunt.)
Phrasal Verbs (none directly related)
- No common phrasal verbs are formed with "bone-meal."
Note on Usage
- "Bone-meal" is a mass noun (uncountable), so it is used without an article in general statements (e.g., ) but can be preceded by "the" or "a type of" when specific (e.g., ).