exoskeleton
Americannoun
noun
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A hard, protective outer body covering of an animal, such as an insect, crustacean, or mollusk. The exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans are largely made of chitin.
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Compare endoskeleton
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exoskeleton
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Vocabulary lists containing exoskeleton
Animals (Zoology) - Introductory
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Animals (Zoology) - Middle School
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Biology-Structure and Function - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Drywood termites molt about seven times during their lives, shedding the old exoskeleton and replacing it with a larger one.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
Companies have also developed new products for the older population, including a powered exoskeleton to support moving various parts of the body and eyewear that automatically adjusts its focus.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
The street has become such a maze that it’s unclear what’s even there, resulting in a series of “Businesses Open” signs assuring the public that something still exists inside the chain-link exoskeleton.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Going uphill, with the torque notched up, I really felt the exoskeleton at work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
It was the exact opposite: a slender, transparent concoction of black plastic and odd protuberances and mesh that looked like the exoskeleton of a giant prehistoric insect.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
