SKELETON

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does skeleton mean? 

• SKELETON (noun)
  The noun SKELETON has 4 senses:

1. something reduced to its minimal form

2. a scandal that is kept secret

3. the hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal

4. the internal supporting structure that gives an artifact its shape

  Familiarity information: SKELETON used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SKELETON (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something reduced to its minimal form

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Context example:

the bare skeleton of a novel

Hypernyms ("skeleton" is a kind of...):

lower limit; minimum (the smallest possible quantity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A scandal that is kept secret

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

skeleton; skeleton in the closet; skeleton in the cupboard

Context example:

there must be a skeleton somewhere in that family's closet

Hypernyms ("skeleton" is a kind of...):

outrage; scandal (a disgraceful event)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

frame; skeletal system; skeleton; systema skeletale

Hypernyms ("skeleton" is a kind of...):

system (a group of physiologically or anatomically related organs or parts)

Meronyms (parts of "skeleton"):

skeletal structure (any structure created by the skeleton of an organism)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "skeleton"):

endoskeleton (the internal skeleton; bony and cartilaginous structure (especially of vertebrates))

exoskeleton (the exterior protective or supporting structure or shell of many animals (especially invertebrates) including bony or horny parts such as nails or scales or hoofs)

Holonyms ("skeleton" is a part of...):

musculoskeletal system (the system of muscles and tendons and ligaments and bones and joints and associated tissues that move the body and maintain its form)

Derivation:

skeletal (of or relating to or forming or attached to a skeleton)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The internal supporting structure that gives an artifact its shape

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

frame; skeletal frame; skeleton; underframe

Context example:

the building has a steel skeleton

Hypernyms ("skeleton" is a kind of...):

supporting structure (a structure that serves to support something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "skeleton"):

chassis (the skeleton of a motor vehicle consisting of a steel frame supported on springs that holds the body and motor)

hoop (a light curved skeleton to spread out a skirt)

Holonyms ("skeleton" is a part of...):

aircraft (a vehicle that can fly)

building; edifice (a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place)

ship (a vessel that carries passengers or freight)

 Context examples 

An antilipidemic agent based on the carbon skeleton of cholesterol.

(Colestolone, NCI Thesaurus)

They are the skeletons in my particular closet.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I know it must be a skeleton, I am sure it is Laurentina's skeleton.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

They may have hearing problems and problems with the intestines, eyes, thyroid, and skeleton.

(Down Syndrome, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

She slept continuously, a tiny skeleton flung round with skin in which the flame flickered lower and lower and at last went out.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Calcium is a major constituent of the skeleton but plays many roles as an intracellular and plasma ion as well.

(Calcium Chloride, NCI Thesaurus)

A benign adipose tissue neoplasm involving any portion of the skeleton.

(Bone Lipoma, NCI Thesaurus)

Now, he said, friend John, where are the skeleton keys?

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“You would do something, whatever you were, my dear Traddles,” thought I, “that would be pleasant and amiable. And by the way,” I said aloud, “I suppose you never draw any skeletons now?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Titanosaur skeletons have been found worldwide, but are best known from South America.

(Paleontologists discover new species of sauropod dinosaur in Tanzania, National Science Foundation)