sinew

US /ˈsɪn.juː/
UK /ˈsɪn.juː/
"sinew" picture
1.

a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone; a tendon or ligament.

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The hunter carefully cut through the deer's sinews.
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His leg muscles and sinews were strong from years of running.
:
tendonligamentcordfiber
2.

the part of a structure, system, or thing that gives it strength or binds it together.

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The economy's sinews were weakened by the recession.
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Education is the sinew of a strong society.
:
strengthpowerforcemainstaybackbone