skull

American  

[skuhl] / skʌl /

noun

1. the bony framework of the head, enclosing the brain and supporting the face; the skeleton of the head.

2. the head as the center of knowledge and understanding; mind.

   to get literature's great ideas through our skulls.

3. Armor. the part of a helmet that covers the top of the head.

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idioms

1. out of one's skull, crazy; demented.

skull British  

/ skʌl /

noun

1. the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates See cranium

2. derogatory the head regarded as the mind or intelligence

   to have a dense skull

3. a picture of a skull used to represent death or danger

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skull Scientific  

/ skŭl /

1. The part of the skeleton that forms the framework of the head, consisting of the bones of the cranium, which protect the brain, and the bones of the face.

2. See more at skeleton

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Other Word Forms

• skull-less adjective
• skull-like adjective

Etymology

Origin of skull

1175–1225; Middle English scolle < Old Norse skalli

Example Sentences

The study found that excessive antioxidant intake can alter sperm DNA and may increase the likelihood of developmental differences in offspring, particularly in facial and skull formation.

From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2026

In “An Experiment,” an assistant draws the curtains on the moon to heighten the uplighting from a candle beneath a vase of water that contains a submerged skull.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026

Joe Rush from London first went to Worthy Farm in 1985 with a truck he had converted to look like a giant skull.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

The experimental therapy is administered through a catheter inserted into tiny holes in the skull.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

Moaning, Renn jammed her fists against her ears as the roar battered through her, on and on till she thought her skull would crack ...

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• cranium
• scalp