skeleton

noun skel·e·ton \ ˈske-lə-tən \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Definition of skeleton

1 : a usually rigid supportive or protective structure or framework of an organism; especially : the bony or more or less cartilaginous framework supporting the soft tissues and protecting the internal organs of a vertebrate

2 : something reduced to its minimum form or essential parts

3 : an emaciated person or animal

4 a : something forming a structural framework

b : the straight or branched chain or ring of atoms that forms the basic structure of an organic molecule

5 : something shameful and kept secret (as in a family) —often used in the phrase skeleton in the closet

6 : a small sled that is ridden in a prone position and used especially in competition; also : the competition itself

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skeletonic

play \ˌske-lə-ˈtä-nik\ adjective

See skeleton defined for English-language learners

See skeleton defined for kids

Examples of skeleton in a Sentence

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 of skeleton from the Web

Campaigners for burial also make the argument that Byrne’s DNA has already been sequenced and researchers could make an exact copy of his skeleton if need be.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Why the Skeleton of the “Irish Giant” Could Be Buried at Sea," 26 June 2018
Its skeleton, recovered by archaeologists and belonging to the extinct species Dama dama geiselana (a different member of which is pictured above), shows an 11-millimeter, circular wound at the top of its pelvis, right next to its spine.

— lizzie wade, Science | AAAS, "Ancient deer skeleton may reveal how Neanderthals hunted prey," 25 June 2018
Studies have examined his genome, his skeleton, his last meals, his clothes, and the microbes that lived in his gut.

— kiona n. smith, Ars Technica, "Ötzi the Iceman spent his last days trying to repair his tools," 22 June 2018
Players start by buying a run-down home and getting to work on repairing/replacing its skeleton.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, ""Fixer Upper" Fans Will Love This New House Flipping Computer Game," 21 June 2018
An amateur fossil hunter discovered a part of her skeletons in the mountains of northern Italy, and scientists first described it in 2003.

— laura yan, Popular Mechanics, "Meet the 240-Million-Year-Old "Mother of All Lizards"," 3 June 2018
Lizard fossils are hard to come by, considering the fragile nature of their skeletons.

— ashley may, USA TODAY, "World's oldest lizard fossil reveals new evolutionary clues about reptiles, scientists say," 31 May 2018
In this Saturday, May 12, 2018, photo, April Oury, owner of Body Gears physical therapy center poses for a portrait with her instructional skeleton George, in Chicago.

— Washington Post, "‘If I could do it over’ — businesses learn from experiences," 16 May 2018
Another species, bone-eating worms,use acid to dissolve the skeletons of dead whales.

— cliff kapono, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Boom! Pow! Zap! The superheroes of the sea have invaded Birch Aquarium," 3 July 2018

These 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.

Illustration of skeleton

Origin and Etymology of skeleton

New Latin, from Greek, neuter of skeletos dried up; akin to Greek skellein to dry up, sklēros hard and perhaps to Old English sceald shallow

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1578

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

skeleton Synonyms

Synonyms

architecture, configuration, edifice, fabric, frame, framework, framing, infrastructure, shell, structure;

Related Words

cage, lattice, network;

contour, figure, outline, profile, shape, silhouette;

chassis;

skeleton

adjective

Definition of skeleton

: of, consisting of, or resembling a skeleton

See skeleton defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of skeleton

1778

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SKELETON Defined for English Language Learners

skeleton

noun

Definition of skeleton for English Language Learners

: the structure of bones that supports the body of a person or animal
: a set or model of all the bones in the body of a person
: a very thin person or animal

skeleton

adjective

Definition of skeleton for English Language Learners

: having the smallest possible number of people who can get a job done

SKELETON Defined for Kids

skeleton

noun skel·e·ton \ ˈske-lə-tən \

Definition of skeleton for Students

1 : a firm structure or framework of a living thing that in vertebrates (as fish, birds, or humans) is typically made of bone and supports the soft tissues of the body and protects the internal organs

2 : framework