# skeleton

/ˈskɛɫətən/ (US) · /skˈɛlɪtən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/skeleton
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. bones of a body

noun · CEFR A2

the frame of bones inside a human or animal body that supports it.

For teachers: the internal framework of bones and cartilage that provides structural support and protection for the organs of a vertebrate.

- The biology students studied a plastic skeleton to learn the names of the bones.
- The archaeological dig uncovered a nearly complete skeleton, allowing researchers to determine the individual's height and approximate age at death.

### 2. structural frame

noun · CEFR B2

the basic frame or structure of a building or plan.

For teachers: the essential supporting structure or central core of a construction or organization.

- The steel skeleton of the new skyscraper was visible from miles away.
- The author spent months developing the skeleton of the plot before writing a single chapter of the actual novel.

### 3. winter sport

noun · CEFR B2

a winter sport where a person slides down ice on a small sled, lying face down.

For teachers: a winter sliding sport in which a person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying prone and head-first.

- Watching the skeleton in the Winter Olympics looks very dangerous because of the high speeds.
- The athlete maintained a perfectly aerodynamic position throughout the skeleton run, eventually breaking the track record by several hundredths of a second.

### 4. minimum staff or plan

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the smallest number of people or things needed to keep something working.

For teachers: the minimum number of personnel or essential elements required to maintain basic operations.

- The office only has a skeleton staff working during the Christmas holidays.
- Due to the budget cuts, the department was forced to operate with a skeleton crew for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Usage: Often used as a modifier before another noun, as in 'skeleton staff'.

### 5. a shameful secret

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a secret from the past that would be embarrassing if people found out.

For teachers: a clipping of the idiom 'skeleton in the closet', referring to a hidden, discreditable fact about someone.

- Every family has a skeleton or two that they prefer not to talk about.
- The journalist spent weeks digging into the candidate's past, hoping to find a skeleton that would derail the campaign.

### 6. to reduce to bones

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to take everything away until only the frame or bones are left.

For teachers: to reduce an object or body to its essential framework or bony structure.

- The desert sun and wind had skeletonized the remains of the old wagon.
- The harsh conditions of the shipwreck had served to skeletonize the vessel, leaving only the heavy timber ribs protruding from the sand.

## Examples

- The doctor showed me a model of a human skeleton.
- Archaeologists carefully brushed away the dirt to reveal the complete skeleton of a prehistoric animal.
- While the external appearance of the species varies significantly, their underlying skeletons remain remarkably similar, suggesting a common evolutionary ancestor.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.