skeleton
noun
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Definition of skeleton
(Entry 1 of 2)
skeleton
adjectiveDefinition of skeleton (Entry 2 of 2)
Illustration of skeleton
Noun
skeleton 1:1 skull, 2 clavicle, 3 scapula, 4 sternum, 5 humerus, 6 pelvis, 7 carpus, 8 metacarpal bones, 9 phalanges (fingers), 10 tibia, 11 tarsus, 12 metatarsal bones, 13 phalanges (toes), 14 fibula, 15 patella, 16 femur, 17 ulna, 18 radius, 19 spinal column, 20 rib, 21 orbit
In the meaning defined above
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Other Words from skeleton
Noun
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adjective
Synonyms for skeleton
Synonyms: Noun
architecture, armature, cadre, configuration, edifice, fabric, frame, framework, framing, infrastructure, shell, structure
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Examples of skeleton in a Sentence
Noun
They found the fossil skeleton of a mastodon. He hung a plastic skeleton on the door for Halloween. She was a skeleton after her illness. Only the charred skeleton of the house remained after the fire. We saw a skeleton of the report before it was published.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
In 1996, the 9,000-year-old skeleton of an early North American man washed out of a muddy bank of the Columbia River near Kennewick, Washington, and into 20 years of controversy. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "DNA may reconnect Aboriginal Australian remains with modern communities," 27 Dec. 2018 Lots of macaw parrot skeletons and feathers have turned up at human settlements in the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico dating back to at least 900 CE. — Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, "DNA reveals ancient parrot breeder supplied US Southwest peoples," 15 Aug. 2018 Germany still remains second in the ranks (17) as Jacqueline Loelling took home silver in women’s skeleton and Andreas Wellinger came in second in men’s ski jumping large hill. — Jenna West, SI.com, "PyeongChang Olympics Medal Count: Norway Still Leading; Hanyu Wins 1,000th Winter Games Gold," 17 Feb. 2018 The mother and daughter pair posed on the couch together, next to what looks like a real skeleton, draped in black lace. — De Elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Kylie Jenner Shares Halloween Costume and Decorations on Social Media," 27 Oct. 2018 Party supplies store Oriental Trading is selling mermaid skeletons for Halloween—and they're set to make a splash this year. — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, "Mermaid Skeletons Are Here to Make a Splash This Halloween," 10 Oct. 2018 Everything really came together, however, when James turned the bottom half of Kylie's face into a skeleton, creating literally the perfect Halloween look. — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "Beauty Vlogger James Charles Just Did Kylie Jenner’s Makeup And It’s Too Fierce For Words," 9 Oct. 2018 There was a pigeon skeleton, an old shoe, and a mason’s bucket trowel. — Joe Alonso, Popular Mechanics, "The Head Stonemason of the National Cathedral Has One Tool He'll Never Get Rid Of," 28 Sep. 2018 The exhibit features animatronic dinosaurs, full skeletons, actual fossils and interactive displays. — Matt Campbell, kansascity, "New Union Station exhibit has life-sized moving dinosaurs and bones you can touch," 29 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'skeleton.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
12 Words to Know for the Winter Olympics
12 Words to Know for the Winter Olympics
The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
Dictionary Entries near skeleton
Statistics for skeleton
Last Updated
10 Mar 2019
Look-up Popularity
Time Traveler for skeleton
The first known use of skeleton was in 1578
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More Definitions for skeleton
skeleton
noun
English Language Learners Definition of skeleton
(Entry 1 of 2)
skeleton
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of skeleton (Entry 2 of 2)
See the full definition for skeleton in the English Language Learners Dictionary
skeleton
noun
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Kids Definition of skeleton
skeleton
noun
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Medical Definition of skeleton
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