Skeleton

/ˈskɛlɪtən/ · noun

Meaning

(anatomy) The system that provides support to an organism, internal and made up of bones and cartilage in vertebrates, external in some other animals..

Definitions by Sense

1. (anatomy) The system that provides support to an organism, internal and made up of bones and cartilage in vertebrates, external in some other animals.
2. An anthropomorphic representation of a skeleton.
3. (figuratively) A very thin person.
4. (figuratively) The central core of something that gives shape to the entire structure.
5. (architecture) A frame that provides support to a building or other construction.
6. (computing, middleware) A client-helper procedure that communicates with a stub.
7. (geometry) The vertices and edges of a polyhedron, taken collectively.
8. (category theory) A full subcategory of another category, consisting of one object from each isomorphism class in the original.

Example Sentences

At the foot of a pretty big pine, and involved in a green creeper, which had even partly lifted some of the smaller bones, a human skeleton lay, with a few shreds of clothing, on the ground.

She dressed up as a skeleton for Halloween.

A Day or two after they parted, [Francis] Spriggs was choſe Captain by the reſt, and a black Enſign was made, which they called Jolly Roger, with the ſame Device that Captain [Edward] Low carried, viz. a white Skeliton in the Middle of it, with a Dart in one Hand ſtriking a bleeding Heart, and in the other, an Hour Glaſs; when this was finiſhed and hoiſted, they fired all their Guns to ſalute their Captain and themſelves, and then looked out for Prey.

She lost so much weight while she was ill that she became a skeleton.

The skeleton of the organisation is essentially the same as it was ten years ago, but many new faces have come and gone.

In remote method invocation, the client helper is a ‘stub’ and the service helper is a ‘skeleton’.

At the time of writing the halts have been reprieved due to doubts as to the legality of the withdrawal of services. It is feared that this reprieve may not outlast the summer timetable which, on the section in question, provides only a skeleton of the former service.

The rail industry has survived the first fortnight of the UK's COVID-19 crisis. Quick intervention from the Department of Transport has ensured that franchise operators will remain solvent during this period; rapid work to replan the timetable has delivered a minimum viable service plan; and the Kitchener-esque appeal for retired signal workers should ensure that the network can continue to operate a skeleton service.

Synonyms for skeleton

Antonyms for skeleton

Related Words

Word Forms

• skeletons
• skeleta
• sceleton
• skeletoning
• skeletoned

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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