Word
skull
US/ˈskəɫ/
UK/skˈʌl/
Definitions
01head bones
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. the bones that form the head and protect the brain.
n. the bony framework of the head, enclosing the brain and supporting the face.
日本語:頭蓋骨※
“The doctor showed him an X-ray of his skull to check for any cracks.”
“Forensic anthropologists examined the skull to determine the age and sex of the individual based on cranial sutures and facial structure.”
Synonyms
02symbol of death
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a picture or object of a head bone used to represent death or danger.
n. the cranium used as a memento mori or a symbol of toxicity and danger.
Español:calavera
“The bottle of poison had a skull and crossbones on the label.”
“The pirate flag, featuring a white skull against a black field, served as a psychological tool to intimidate merchant vessels into surrendering.”
Synonyms
03the mind
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
n. your head or your mind, often used when someone is not listening.
n. the mind or brain, frequently used in idiomatic expressions regarding comprehension or stubbornness.
“I've told him a dozen times, but I can't get it through his thick skull.”
“It took several hours of explanation before the basic principles of the new software finally penetrated his skull.”
Usage
Often used with the adjective 'thick' to describe someone who is slow to understand.
04to drink quickly
C2 · Proficiency Informal · Slang
v. to drink the entire contents of a glass in one go.
v. to consume the entirety of a beverage by upending the vessel; synonymous with 'chug'.
“The crowd cheered as he managed to skull the whole pint of juice.”
“In a display of bravado at the university party, he proceeded to skull his drink before joining his friends on the dance floor.”
Teaching tip
This usage is particularly common in Australian and New Zealand English, though understood elsewhere.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “skull” in context.
Verb
01. crush skull
“The weight of the falling debris threatened to crush the victim's skull.”
verb + noun
02. fracture skull
“The impact was strong enough to fracture his skull in two places.”
verb + noun
03. penetrate skull
“Surgeons had to be extremely careful not to let the drill penetrate the skull too deeply.”
verb + noun
04. skull houses
“The skull houses the brain and the primary sensory organs of the head.”
noun + verb
05. skull protects
“The primary function of the skull is that it protects the brain from external trauma.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. fractured skull
“The athlete was rushed to the hospital with a fractured skull after the collision.”
adj + noun
07. human skull
“Archaeologists discovered a well-preserved human skull at the excavation site.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. base of skull
“The patient complained of severe pain at the base of the skull.”
noun + prep + noun
09. fragment of skull
“Forensic experts examined a small fragment of skull found at the scene.”
noun + prep + noun
10. get through one's skull
“I can't get it through his thick skull that he needs to study to pass.”
11. skull and crossbones
“The bottle of poison was clearly marked with a skull and crossbones.”
12. suffer a skull fracture
“The cyclist was lucky not to suffer a skull fracture in the accident.”
Real-World Examples
“He was unusual because his skull, teeth and long bones were all complete and available for study.” “Around 80 human skulls have been discovered near Shimao's East Gate.” Etymology
From Middle English sculle, scolle (also schulle, scholle), probably from a dialectal form of Old Norse skalli (“bald head, skull”), itself probably related to Old English sċealu (“husk”), to Proto-Norse ᛋᚲᚨᛚᛟ (skalo), from Proto-Germanic *skallô; compare Finnish skallo. Compare Scots scull, Danish skal (“skull”) and skalle (“bald head, skull”), Norwegian skalle, Swedish skalle and especially dialectal Swedish skulle. Related to Old Norse skoltr (“brow”), skolptr (“muzzle, snout”), akin to Icelandic skoltur (“jaw”), dialectal Swedish skult, skulle (“dome, crown of the head, skull”), Norwegian Nynorsk skult, skolt (“cranium, head (of a hammer); crag; hub”), Middle Dutch scolle, scholle, Middle Low German scholle, schulle (“clod, sod”), and Scots skult, skolt. Compare also Old High German sciula, skiula (“skull”). Possibly related to Latin celsus (“lofty, high, tall”), collis (“hill”). Also related to Old Norse skǫllóttr, Icelandic sköllóttur, Old Swedish skallotter, Swedish skallig, Danish skaldet, Norwegian skallet (“bald”).
See school (“a multitude”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. my skull's afly
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/skull
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0