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exoskeleton

[ek-soh-skel-i-tn]
See more synonyms for exoskeleton on Thesaurus.com
noun Zoology.
  1. an external covering or integument, especially when hard, as the shells of crustaceans (opposed to endoskeleton).
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Origin of exoskeleton

First recorded in 1840–50; exo- + skeleton
Related formsex·o·skel·e·tal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for exoskeletal

Historical Examples

  • The skin of the Newt is quite devoid of any exoskeletal structures.

    The Vertebrate Skeleton

    Sidney H. Reynolds

  • In Teleostei dental plates are usually developed as an exoskeletal covering on parts of the branchial arches.

  • Frequently, however, this exoskeletal somite may be differentiated into various regions.

  • The skin of the frog is smooth and quite devoid of scales or other exoskeletal structures.

    The Vertebrate Skeleton

    Sidney H. Reynolds

  • The teeth are exoskeletal structures, partly of dermal, partly of epidermal origin.

    The Vertebrate Skeleton

    Sidney H. Reynolds

British Dictionary definitions for exoskeletal

exoskeleton

noun
  1. the protective or supporting structure covering the outside of the body of many animals, such as the thick cuticle of arthropodsCompare endoskeleton
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Derived Formsexoskeletal, adjective
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

Word Origin and History for exoskeletal

exoskeleton

n.

1847, from exo- + skeleton. Introduced by English anatomist Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
exoskeletal in Medicine

exoskeleton

(ĕk′sō-skĕl′ĭ-tn)
n.
  1. All hard parts, such as hair, teeth, and nails, that develop from the ectoderm or mesoderm in vertebrates.
  2. A hard outer structure, such as the shell of an insect, that provides protection or support for an organism.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
exoskeletal in Science

exoskeleton

[ĕk′sō-skĕl′ĭ-tn]
  1. 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. Compare endoskeleton.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.