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Skeleton

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skel⋅e⋅ton

  [skel-i-tn]
Use Skeleton in a Sentence
–noun
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.
–adjective
7. of or pertaining to a skeleton.
8. like or being a mere framework; reduced to the essential or minimal parts or numbers: a skeleton staff.
—Idioms
9. 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.
10. skeleton in the closet or cupboard,
a. a family scandal that is concealed to avoid public disgrace.
b. any embarrassing, shameful, or damaging secret.
Origin:
1570–80; < NL < Gk: mummy, n. use of neut. of skeletós dried up, verbid of skéllein to dry

Related forms:
skel⋅e⋅ton⋅less, adjective
skel⋅e⋅ton⋅like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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skel·e·ton   (skěl'ĭ-tn)   
n.  

    1. The internal structure composed of bone and cartilage that protects and supports the soft organs, tissues, and other parts of a vertebrate organism; endoskeleton.

    2. The hard external supporting and protecting structure in many invertebrates, such as mollusks and crustaceans, and certain vertebrates, such as turtles; exoskeleton.

  2. A supporting structure or framework, as of a building.

  3. An outline or sketch.

  4. Something reduced to its basic or minimal parts.

  5. One that is very thin or emaciated.

adj.  

  1. Of, relating to, or resembling a skeleton.

  2. Reduced to the basic or minimal parts or members: a skeleton crew.


[Greek skeleton (sōma), dried-up (body), neuter of skeletos, from skellesthai, to dry up.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

skeleton 
1578, from Mod.L. sceleton "bones, bony framework of the body," from Gk. skeleton soma "dried-up body, mummy," from neut. of skeletos "dried-up," from skellein "dry up," from PIE base *skele- "to parch, whither" (cf. Gk. skleros "hard"). The Gk. word was borrowed in L.L. (sceletus), hence Fr. squelette, Sp. esqueleto, It. scheletro. The meaning "bare outline" is first recorded 1607; hence skeleton crew (1778), skeleton key, etc. Phrase skeleton in the closet "source of secret shame to a person or family" popularized 1845 by Thackeray, though he likely didn't coin it.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: skel·e·ton
Pronunciation: 'skel-&t-&n
Function: noun
1 : a usually rigid supportive or protectivestructure 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
2 : the straight or branched chain or ring of atoms that forms the basic structure of an organic molecule
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

skeleton skel·e·ton (skěl'ĭ-tn)
n.

  1. The internal structure composed of bone and cartilage that protects and supports the soft organs, tissues, and other parts of a vertebrate organism; endoskeleton.

  2. All the bones of the body taken collectively.

  3. The exoskeleton.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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