skeletonize
verb
skel·e·ton·ize
ˈske-lə-tə-ˌnīz 
skeletonized; skeletonizing
: to produce in or reduce to skeleton form
skeletonize a leaf
Examples of skeletonize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Japanese beetles may skeletonize plant leaves; control pests by hand picking.
—
The Editors, Good Housekeeping, 28 June 2022
To power the piece, Richard Mille developed a new, very compact automatic movement that is skeletonized for added pizzaz.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2023
The caterpillars will just skeletonize the leaves, causing the plant to die.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 16 July 2015
The larvae typically skeletonize the leaves and feed on the back causing defoliation plus dryness which actually leads to the plant’s death.
—Chandra Fleming, Detroit Free Press, 9 Nov. 2022
Next, Toledano had Harris Freedman, a Manhattan watchmaker, place the dial back in the watch, sand-blast the steel bracelet watch strap, and skeletonize, or hollow out, the hands before painting them black.
—Hannah Elliott, Bloomberg.com, 23 Dec. 2019
Adults skeletonize leaves, chew flowers, and may completely defoliate plants while larvae feed on lawn and garden plant roots.
—The Editors, Good Housekeeping, 10 July 2018
The Editors, Good Housekeeping, 28 June 2022
To power the piece, Richard Mille developed a new, very compact automatic movement that is skeletonized for added pizzaz.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2023
The caterpillars will just skeletonize the leaves, causing the plant to die.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 16 July 2015
The larvae typically skeletonize the leaves and feed on the back causing defoliation plus dryness which actually leads to the plant’s death.
—Chandra Fleming, Detroit Free Press, 9 Nov. 2022
Next, Toledano had Harris Freedman, a Manhattan watchmaker, place the dial back in the watch, sand-blast the steel bracelet watch strap, and skeletonize, or hollow out, the hands before painting them black.
—Hannah Elliott, Bloomberg.com, 23 Dec. 2019
Adults skeletonize leaves, chew flowers, and may completely defoliate plants while larvae feed on lawn and garden plant roots.
—The Editors, Good Housekeeping, 10 July 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'skeletonize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1644, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near skeletonize
Cite this Entry
“Skeletonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skeletonize. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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