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endoskeleton

American  
[en-doh-skel-i-tn] / ˌɛn doʊˈskɛl ɪ tn /

noun

Zoology.
  1. the internal skeleton or framework of the body of an animal (exoskeleton ).


endoskeleton British  
/ ˌɛndəʊˈskɛlɪtən /

noun

  1. the internal skeleton of an animal, esp the bony or cartilaginous skeleton of vertebrates Compare exoskeleton

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

endoskeleton Scientific  
/ ĕn′dō-skĕlĭ-tn /
  1. The internal supporting framework of humans and other vertebrates, usually made of bone. Certain invertebrates, such as sponges and echinoderms, also have endoskeletons.

  2. Compare exoskeleton


Other Word Forms

  • endoskeletal adjective

Etymology

Origin of endoskeleton

First recorded in 1830–40; endo- + skeleton

Compare meaning

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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.

Google famously embraced a similar idea: a modular smartphone, code-named Project Ara, that let users mix and match different components into a single frame, or “endoskeleton.”

From Washington Post

Over several months, the artist has built three black scaffold structures 60 feet high, off the walls, like an endoskeleton.

From New York Times

"I’ve got thick skin stretched over my metal endoskeleton, so I knew I could take it," he noted.

From Fox News

It’s composed of inflatable habitats, which are currently being developed by NASA, and an endoskeleton and exoskeleton created using topological optimization as the guiding principal.

From Los Angeles Times

The place was emptied of its clientele, and largely gutted of its well-appointed décor and furnishings, revealing its original gritty endoskeleton.

From New York Times