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exoskeleton

[ ek-soh-skel-i-tn ]

noun

, Zoology.
  1. an external covering or integument, especially when hard, as the shells of crustaceans ( endoskeleton ).


exoskeleton

/ ˌɛksəʊˈskɛlɪtən /

noun

  1. the protective or supporting structure covering the outside of the body of many animals, such as the thick cuticle of arthropods Compare endoskeleton


exoskeleton

/ ĕk′sō-skĕlĭ-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.
  2. Compare endoskeleton


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Derived Forms

  • ˌexoˈskeletal, adjective

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Other Words From

  • exo·skele·tal adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of exoskeleton1

First recorded in 1840–50; exo- + skeleton

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Compare Meanings

How does exoskeleton compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

What’s happening, Boyes explains, isn’t that the caterpillars are actually ending their growth with more meat in their exoskeleton.

Fossil exoskeletons of whole beetles lack the joints needed to fully classify them.

The whole beetles’ fossilized exoskeletons lacked the joints needed for classification, but by piecing together the fragmented beetles, the researchers were able to reconstruct these features.

I eat cicadas that are alive with fluttering wings, dead cicadas that are stiff and dried-out, partially molted cicadas frozen in their exoskeletons, and I especially enjoy eating moist cicada nymphs fresh out of the ground.

In addition to littering the ground with exoskeletons, in their frenzied quest for mates, cicadas make a ton of noise.

From Vox

Today anyone (with the budget) can buy a ReWalk Robotic Exoskeleton for roughly $85,000.

The exoskeleton in Brazil was described as “mind-controlled,” but it is important to understand exactly what that means.

A key concept with an exoskeleton is that it restores control to the user.

The term exoskeleton refers to the hard outer shell found on insects and certain animals like grasshoppers and crabs.

Another strategy to restore walking is to use an exoskeleton.

This exoskeleton differs from the main or axial skeleton of the higher animals, the latter being inside of the body.

The exoskeleton is composed of plates of carbonate of lime, called ossicles, which cover the surface of the body.

Exoskeleton: Outside framework or support, differing from a true skeleton which lies inside the body.

The exoskeleton as in the Heterostraci consists of shields and scales, the shields being divisible into three layers.

The exoskeleton is formed of bony plates, the dorsal and ventral shields each consisting of several symmetrically arranged pieces.

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