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Definition of "jawbone" []

  • A bone of the jaw, especially the bone of the lower jaw. (noun)
  • To try to influence or pressure through strong persuasion, especially to urge to comply voluntarily. (verb-transitive)
  • To urge voluntary compliance with official wishes or guidelines. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "jawbone" in a sentence
  • "He believes the find is the first jawbone from a meat-eating dinosaur ever found in Maryland."
  • "The membrane behind the jawbone is essentially avascular and bleeds very little, if at all, and although I have no doubt that this procedure causes some minor discomfort for the fish, keep in mind these creatures routinely eat very spiny baitfish, so they are used to puncture wounds inside the mouth."
  • "She has no idea where the jawbone is or if it has been buried."