skeleton

American  

[skel-i-tn] / ˈskɛl ɪ tn /

noun

• skeletons
  plural

1. Anatomy, Zoology. the bones of a human or an animal considered as a whole, together forming the framework of the body.

2. any of various structures forming a rigid framework in an invertebrate.

3. an emaciated person or animal.

4. a supporting framework, as of a leaf, building, or ship.

5. an outline, as of a literary work.

   the skeleton of the plot.

6. something reduced to its essential parts.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a skeleton.

2. like or being a mere framework; reduced to the essential or minimal parts or numbers.

   a skeleton staff.

idioms

1. skeleton in the closet / cupboard,

   1. a family scandal that is concealed to avoid public disgrace.

   2. any embarrassing, shameful, or damaging secret.

2. skeleton at the feast, a person or thing that casts gloom over a joyful occasion; a note or reminder of sorrow in the midst of joy.

skeleton British  

/ ˈskɛlɪtən /

noun

1. a hard framework consisting of inorganic material that supports and protects the soft parts of an animal's body and provides attachment for muscles: may be internal (an endoskeleton), as in vertebrates, or external( an exoskeleton), as in arthropods See also endoskeleton exoskeleton

2. informal a very thin emaciated person or animal

3. the essential framework of any structure, such as a building or leaf, that supports or determines the shape of the rest of the structure

4. an outline consisting of bare essentials

   the skeleton of a novel

5. (modifier) reduced to a minimum

   a skeleton staff

6. a scandalous fact or event in the past that is kept secret

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skeleton Scientific  

/ skĕl′ĭ-tn /

1. The internal structure of vertebrate animals, composed of bone or cartilage, that supports the body, serves as a framework for the attachment of muscles, and protects the vital organs and associated structures.

2. A hard protective covering or supporting structure of invertebrate animals.

3. See also endoskeleton exoskeleton

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Usage

What is the sport of skeleton? Skeleton is a sport in which an individual racer rides a small, railed sled headfirst down an ice-covered chute with the goal of reaching the finish line as quickly as possible. The sled itself is also called a skeleton. The sport is sometimes also called skeleton sledding. The sled is sometimes called a skeleton bobsled or skeleton bobsleigh. Racers steer by making slight shifts in their body position. To slow down, racers can drag a foot on the ice. Skeleton is known as one of the sliding sports, along with luge and bobsleigh (also called bobsled), which take place on a similar course. In skeleton, racers ride on their stomachs, in contrast with luge, in which racers lie on their backs. Skeleton is an event in the Winter Olympics. Due to the vulnerable position of the athletes and the extremely high speeds they can reach—over 80 mph (129 km/h)—skeleton is considered one of the most dangerous winter sports. Example: Skeleton seems very similar to luge, but the strategies used in each sport are actually quite different.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• skeletal
  adjective
• skeleton-like
  adjective
• skeletonless
  adjective
• skeletonlike
  adjective
• skeletally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• skeletons
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of skeleton

1570–80; < New Latin < Greek: mummy, noun use of neuter of skeletós dried up, verbid of skéllein to dry

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Explanation

One thing every person (and most animals) in the world has in common is a skeleton: we all have a connected group of bones that help shape and support our bodies. You probably see a lot of skeletons at Halloween, because they look a little spooky. They shouldn't scare you too much, because we all have skeletons under our skin and muscles. Skeletons give our body shape, and parts of the skeleton (like the skull) protect important organs (like the brain). Sometimes, the word skeleton is used to mean the "bare bones" of other things: the skeleton of a financial plan is a basic outline of that plan. If you said someone has a "skeleton in their closet," it means they're hiding something embarrassing or incriminating.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

skeleton skeletons

Movements that place more substantial forces on the skeleton appear to produce a stronger response in the biological processes involved in forming new bone.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 12, 2026

The team carefully examined its body proportions, counted its scales, and studied features of its skeleton.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 8, 2026

"It's going to be not only one of the biggest, but it'll be the most beautiful ballroom I think anywhere in the world," Trump told reporters inside the skeleton of the building.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

Options could include using a spooky fake skeleton hand to share out treats, rather than letting children reach into a bowl, or dressing up to meet trick or treaters.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

Only a professional, using a specialized "skeleton key," could have turned that lock, Gordievsky thought.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Giant skeletons: Home Depot’s 12-foot-tall skeletons are some of the most coveted—and noticeable—Halloween decorations around.

From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2026

The auction house added that the Nanotyrannus is "one of only three such skeletons known to science."

From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026

Self-assembly is essential throughout biology, helping create everything from the internal skeletons of cells to specialized molecular compartments and large protein complexes.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

The review covered hundreds of species on the IUCN's "red list" -- icons like staghorn and table corals whose mineral skeletons give reefs their dazzling three-dimensional complexity.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

In the shadows beneath an awning, Sefia dimly made out the figures of five old people, as thin as skeletons, sitting in rocking chairs.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee

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Related Words

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