boneless
Describes meat or fish that has had all of its bones removed prior to being sold or cooked. It can also be used figuratively to describe something that lacks structure, strength, or firmness.
Examples
3 of 5I usually buy boneless chicken breasts because they are much faster to cook for dinner.
I normally purchase chicken meat without bones to save time during evening meal preparation.
The culinary department requires that all fish served in the banquet hall be strictly boneless for the safety of the guests.
The kitchen staff must ensure no bones remain in the fish served to prevent any choking hazards for attendees.
I'm just going to grab some boneless wings and a soda while we watch the game.
I will get some chicken pieces without bones and a drink to eat during the sports match.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'less' as 'minus.' Boneless = Bone minus. It is the 'less' work version of meat because you don't have to cut around the bones.
Quick Quiz
For the stir-fry recipe, you should use ______ chicken to make it easier to eat with chopsticks.
Correct!
The correct answer is: boneless
Examples
I usually buy boneless chicken breasts because they are much faster to cook for dinner.
everydayI normally purchase chicken meat without bones to save time during evening meal preparation.
The culinary department requires that all fish served in the banquet hall be strictly boneless for the safety of the guests.
formalThe kitchen staff must ensure no bones remain in the fish served to prevent any choking hazards for attendees.
I'm just going to grab some boneless wings and a soda while we watch the game.
informalI will get some chicken pieces without bones and a drink to eat during the sports match.
The study compares the nutritional density of bone-in versus boneless bovine samples in industrial processing.
academicThe research looks at the difference in nutrients between beef with bones and beef without bones in a factory setting.
Our quarterly report indicates a significant market shift toward boneless pork products in the frozen food sector.
businessThe business data shows that customers are increasingly choosing pork without bones in the frozen aisle.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
boneless wings
breaded and fried pieces of chicken breast served like traditional wings
boneless banquet
a meal deal consisting of various pieces of meat without bones
boneless ribeye
a specific cut of steak where the rib bone has been removed
Often Confused With
Boned can mean having bones removed (like boneless), but can also refer to something stiffened with bones or strips.
Bony describes something that has many bones or looks like a skeleton, while boneless means the bones are gone.
Usage Notes
The term is almost exclusively used in culinary contexts to describe meat preparation. Figuratively, it can describe a weak person or a lack of organizational structure, though this is rare.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 'unboned' to mean 'boneless,' but 'unboned' can actually mean that the bones have NOT been removed in certain technical contexts.
Memory Tip
Think of 'less' as 'minus.' Boneless = Bone minus. It is the 'less' work version of meat because you don't have to cut around the bones.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old English 'bān' (bone) combined with the suffix '-leas' (without).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western cultures, boneless meat is preferred for convenience and speed, whereas in many Asian and European cuisines, 'bone-in' meat is often preferred for superior flavor during cooking.
Quick Quiz
For the stir-fry recipe, you should use ______ chicken to make it easier to eat with chopsticks.
Correct!
The correct answer is: boneless
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
Comments (0)
Login to CommentStart learning languages for free
Start Learning Free