¹skeleton

noun skel·e·ton \ˈske-lə-tən\

: the structure of bones that supports the body of a person or animal

: a set or model of all the bones in the body of a person

: a very thin person or animal

Full Definition of SKELETON

: a usually rigid supportive or protective structure or framework of an organism; especially : the bony or more or less cartilaginous framework supporting the soft tissues and protecting the internal organs of a vertebrate

: something reduced to its minimum form or essential parts

: an emaciated person or animal

a : something forming a structural framework

b : the straight or branched chain or ring of atoms that forms the basic structure of an organic molecule

: something shameful and kept secret (as in a family) —often used in the phrase skeleton in the closet

: a small sled that is ridden in a prone position and used especially in competition; also : the competition itself

— ske·le·ton·ic \ˌske-lə-ˈtä-nik\ adjective

See skeleton defined for English-language learners

See skeleton defined for kids

Illustration of SKELETON

Origin of SKELETON

New Latin, from Greek, neuter of skeletos dried up; akin to Greek skellein to dry up, sklēros hard and perhaps to Old English sceald shallow

First Known Use: 1578

Related to SKELETON

Synonyms: architecture, armature, cadre, configuration, edifice, fabric, framework, framing, infrastructure, shell, frame, structure

²skeleton

adjective

: having the smallest possible number of people who can get a job done

Full Definition of SKELETON

: of, consisting of, or resembling a skeleton

See skeleton defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of SKELETON

1778

SKELETON[1] Defined for Kids

skeleton

noun skel·e·ton \ˈske-lə-tən\

Definition of SKELETON for Kids

: a firm structure or framework of a living thing that in vertebrates (as fish, birds, or humans) is typically made of bone and supports the soft tissues of the body and protects the internal organs

: framework <the steel skeleton of a building>

Medical Dictionary