skeleton
SKEH-lih-tuhn
Skeleton (noun) means the framework of bones supporting a human or animal body. Example: “The museum displayed a full dinosaur skeleton.”
noun
1
The framework of bones supporting a human or animal body.
"The museum displayed a full dinosaur skeleton."
"The vet showed us an X-ray of the cat's skeleton to find the broken bone."
"Scientists found a nearly complete whale skeleton buried in the cliff."
2
The basic framework or outline of something, before it is filled in with detail.
"She wrote a skeleton of the plot before adding any dialogue."
"The team agreed a rough skeleton of the schedule and left the details until Monday."
"This document is only a skeleton, so please add your own examples."
3
A winter sport in which the athlete lies face-down on a small sled and speeds head-first down an icy track.
"He won a bronze medal in skeleton at the Winter Olympics."
"Skeleton looks terrifying on television because the riders go so fast, so close to the ice."
"She trained for years to compete in skeleton, and she loves the speed."
How to use skeleton
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe bony framework of a body, or by extension any bare underlying structure — plus the name of a head-first sledding sport.
Common mistake
The idiom "skeleton in the closet" means a hidden shameful secret, not a literal skeleton.
Common pairings
skeleton crew
skeleton key
skeleton in the closet
human skeleton
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Word forms
- Plural
- skeletons
- Third person singular
- skeletons
- Past tense
- skeletoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum displayed a full dinosaur _____.
Etymology
From New Latin "sceleton," ultimately from Greek "skeletós," meaning "dried up" or "withered" — describing a dried-out body.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for skeleton
Breton
Carleton
Appleton
Eagleton
simpleton
singleton
Middleton
Pendleton
Stapleton
Littleton
Pembleton
Shackleton
See all rhymes for skeleton →
Frequently asked questions
What does “skeleton” mean?
The word “skeleton” means the framework of bones supporting a human or animal body. In plain terms, the bony framework of a body, or by extension any bare underlying structure — plus the name of a head-first sledding sport.
How do you pronounce “skeleton”?
“Skeleton” is pronounced SKEH-lih-tuhn (/ˈskɛlətən/ in IPA).
How do you use “skeleton” in a sentence?
Here is “skeleton” used in a sentence: “The museum displayed a full dinosaur skeleton.”
What part of speech is “skeleton”?
“Skeleton” is a noun.
Where does the word “skeleton” come from?
The word “skeleton” comes from New Latin. From New Latin "sceleton," ultimately from Greek "skeletós," meaning "dried up" or "withered" — describing a dried-out body.
Is “skeleton” a common word?
“Skeleton” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “skeleton” have?
“Skeleton” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the framework of bones supporting a human or animal body.
What is the difference between the literal and figurative meanings of 'skeleton'?
The literal meaning of 'skeleton' is the framework of bones supporting a human or animal body. The figurative meaning refers to the basic framework or outline of something before it is filled in with detail, such as a 'skeleton plan' or 'skeleton script.'
Is skeleton a winter sport?
Yes, skeleton is a winter sport in which the athlete lies face-down on a small sled and speeds head-first down an icy track. It is distinct from bobsled and luge, which use different sled positions and equipment.
What does a 'skeleton' outline mean in writing or planning?
A 'skeleton' outline refers to the basic framework of a document, plan, or project before the details are added, such as a skeleton essay or skeleton staff covering only essential roles.
