skeleton

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noun skel·e·ton \ˈske-lə-tən\

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
4a : something forming a structural frameworkb : 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

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

Israel is the farthest south Neanderthal skeletons have ever been discovered.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "The Middle East Is a Treasure Trove of Natural Wonders. Now It Has a Museum to Show Them Off," 12 July 2017
The display at the Wimbledon Village Osteopath office includes a skeleton attempting a dive volley.

— zac boyer, The Seattle Times, "Wimbledon-area shops compete to design tennis storefronts," 10 July 2017
The researchers hoped the dogs would lead them to the site where that skeleton was found.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Researchers think they know where Amelia Earhart died — days after a photo suggested she lived," 9 July 2017
An Asian elephant skeleton is laid out flat on a pedestal.

— steve johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Thousands of treasures lie in wait at the Field Museum," 7 July 2017
The exaggerated torsos and spindly limbs of the dolls that hung over his bed — nuns, bullfighters, skeletons — provided a template for his work throughout his life.

— william grimes, New York Times, "José Luis Cuevas, a Dark Master of Mexican Art, Dies at 83," 7 July 2017
The tower’s skeleton has been erected and will offer a 124-foot-high observation deck.

— kelly mcbride, Cincinnati.com, "Blue Ash council to consider playscape design for Summit Park," 7 July 2017
But adding to Hayward or Griffin to a lineup featuring Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic, and also re-signing either of Miami's own top free agents, Waiters or Johnson, provides the skeleton of a roster that can compete with the East.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "Riley must land Hayward or Griffin in free agency for Heat to keep pace in new-era NBA," 29 June 2017
Farther south, in modern-day Israel and Jordan, for example, people living before, during, and after Göbekli Tepe’s time were removing the skulls from skeletons and setting them apart in special burial caches or on shelves.

— andrew curry, Science | AAAS, "Carved human skulls found in ancient stone temple," 28 June 2017

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

See Words from the same year

skeleton

adjective skel·e·ton

Definition of skeleton

: of, consisting of, or resembling a skeleton

See skeleton defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of skeleton

1778

SKELETON Defined for English Language Learners

skeleton

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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

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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 the steel skeleton of a building

Medical Dictionary

skeleton

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noun skel·e·ton \ˈskel-ət-^ən\

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