noun · verb · 20 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈskɛlɪtən/
General-American:skĕˈ -lə-tən
General-American:skĕˈ -lət-n
General-American:/ˈskɛlətən/
General-American:[ˈskɛləʔn̩]
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛlətən
CMU ARPABET:S K EH1 L AH0 T AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The system that provides support to an organism, internal and made up of bones and cartilage in vertebrates, external in some other animals.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An anthropomorphic representation of a skeleton.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
She dressed up as a skeleton for Halloween.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A very thin person.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Examples
She lost so much weight while she was ill that she became a skeleton.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The central core of something that gives shape to the entire structure; an outline of a longer project.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Examples
The skeleton of the organisation is essentially the same as it was ten years ago, but many new faces have come and gone.
I've written three stories. Well, one is a skeleton, but the other two are mostly complete.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A frame that provides support to a building or other construction.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: architecture
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A client-helper procedure that communicates with a stub.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
A very thin form of light-faced type.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: media, printing, publishing
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
A minimum or bare essentials.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: attributive, especially
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
noun
Meaning 11
The network of veins in a leaf.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
noun
Meaning 12
Clipping of skeleton in the closet (“a shameful secret”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, idiomatic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
noun
Meaning 13
A type of tobogganing in which competitors lie face down, and descend head first.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: skeleton tobogganing, skeleton sliding
Antonyms: none provided
14
noun
Meaning 14
The form of toboggan used in this sport.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
verb
Meaning 15
To reduce to a skeleton; to skin; to skeletonize.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
verb
Meaning 16
To minimize.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
noun
Meaning 17
the internal supporting structure that gives an artifact its shape
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the building has a steel skeleton
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: skeletal frame, frame, underframe
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: supporting structure
Narrower terms: chassis, hoop
18
noun
Meaning 18
the hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: skeletal system, frame, systema skeletale
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: system
Narrower terms: endoskeleton, exoskeleton
19
noun
Meaning 19
a scandal that is kept secret
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
there must be a skeleton somewhere in that family's closet
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: skeleton in the closet, skeleton in the cupboard
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: scandal, outrage
20
noun
Meaning 20
something reduced to its minimal form
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the battalion was a mere skeleton of its former self
the bare skeleton of a novel
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: minimum, lower limit
History
Etymology
From New Latin sceleton, from Ancient Greek σκελετόν (skeletón), the neuter of σκελετός (skeletós, “dried up, withered, dried body, parched, mummy”), from σκέλλω (skéllō, “dry, dry up, make dry, parch”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelh1- (“to parch, wither”); compare Ancient Greek σκληρός (sklērós, “hard”).
The etymology of the term is disputed between two versions. * From the sled used, which originally was a bare frame, like a skeleton. * From Norwegian kjaelke (a type of ice sled) through a bad anglicization as "skele".
Across languages
Translations
302 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Abkhaz:
аҧсыбаҩ
(apsəbajw)
— system that provides support to an organism
Abkhaz:
абаҩеибаркыра
(abajwejbarkʼəra)
— system that provides support to an organism
Afrikaans:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Afrikaans:
geraamte
— system that provides support to an organism
Albanian:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Amharic:
አጽም
(ʾäṣm)
— system that provides support to an organism
Arabic:
هَيْكَل عَظْمِيّ
(haykal ʕaẓmiyy)
— system that provides support to an organism
Arabic:
هَيْكَل
(haykal)
— system that provides support to an organism
Arabic:
هيكل عضمي
(haykal ʕaḍmi)
— system that provides support to an organism
Tunisian Arabic:
هيكل العظم
(hæykel l-ɛđam)
— system that provides support to an organism
Aragonese:
escleto
— system that provides support to an organism
Aragonese:
gosaralla
— system that provides support to an organism
Armenian:
կմախք
(kmaxkʻ)
— system that provides support to an organism
Assamese:
জঁকা
(zõka)
— system that provides support to an organism
Assamese:
জকা
(zoka)
— system that provides support to an organism
Asturian:
cadarma
— system that provides support to an organism
Asturian:
esqueletu
— system that provides support to an organism
Azerbaijani:
قفسه
(qæfæsæ)
— system that provides support to an organism
Azerbaijani:
النگه
(ælængæ)
— system that provides support to an organism
Azerbaijani:
اسکلت
(iskilet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Azerbaijani:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Azerbaijani:
qəfəsə
— system that provides support to an organism
Azerbaijani:
ələngə
— system that provides support to an organism
Bambara:
kolojalan
— system that provides support to an organism
Bashkir:
һөлдә
(höldə)
— system that provides support to an organism
Basque:
eskeleto
— system that provides support to an organism
Belarusian:
шкіле́т
(škiljét)
— system that provides support to an organism
Bengali:
কঙ্কাল
(koṅkal)
— system that provides support to an organism
Breton:
skeledenn
— system that provides support to an organism
Bulgarian:
ске́лет
(skélet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Burmese:
အရိုးစု
(a.rui:cu.)
— system that provides support to an organism
Catalan:
esquelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Chinese Mandarin:
骨骼
(gǔgé)
— system that provides support to an organism
Chinese Mandarin:
骸骨
(háigǔ)
— system that provides support to an organism
Cornish:
rames
— system that provides support to an organism
Corsican:
scheletru
— system that provides support to an organism
Crimean Tatar:
taqlet
— system that provides support to an organism
Crimean Tatar:
такълет
(taqlet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Czech:
kostra
— system that provides support to an organism
Danish:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Dutch:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Dutch:
geraamte
— system that provides support to an organism
Emilian:
scailter
— system that provides support to an organism
Esperanto:
skeleto
— system that provides support to an organism
Esperanto:
ostaro
— system that provides support to an organism
Estonian:
skelett
— system that provides support to an organism
Faroese:
beinagrind
— system that provides support to an organism
Finnish:
luuranko
— system that provides support to an organism
Finnish:
tukiranka
— system that provides support to an organism
French:
squelette
— system that provides support to an organism
West-Frisian:
bonkerak
— system that provides support to an organism
West-Frisian:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Friulian:
scarsanali
— system that provides support to an organism
Galician:
esquelete
— system that provides support to an organism
Galician:
arcabouzo
— system that provides support to an organism
Galician:
canfornio
— system that provides support to an organism
Galician:
agutío
— system that provides support to an organism
Georgian:
ჩონჩხი
(čončxi)
— system that provides support to an organism
German:
Skelett
— system that provides support to an organism
German:
Gerippe
— system that provides support to an organism
German:
Gerigel
— system that provides support to an organism
Greek:
σκελετός
(skeletós)
— system that provides support to an organism
Ancient Greek:
σκελετός
(skeletós)
— system that provides support to an organism
Gujarati:
કંકાલતંત્ર
(kaṅkāltantra)
— system that provides support to an organism
Haitian Creole:
eskèlèt
— system that provides support to an organism
Hawaiian:
kinanahiwi
— system that provides support to an organism
Hebrew:
שֶׁלֶד
(shéled)
— system that provides support to an organism
Hindi:
कंकाल
(kaṅkāl)
— system that provides support to an organism
White Hmong:
pob txha
— system that provides support to an organism
Hungarian:
csontváz
— system that provides support to an organism
Icelandic:
beinagrind
— system that provides support to an organism
Ido:
skeleto
— system that provides support to an organism
Indonesian:
rangka
— system that provides support to an organism
Indonesian:
kerangka
— system that provides support to an organism
Indonesian:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Ingrian:
skiletti
— system that provides support to an organism
Ingrian:
sisusskiletti
— system that provides support to an organism
Interlingua:
skeleto
— system that provides support to an organism
Irish:
creatlach
— system that provides support to an organism
Italian:
scheletro
— system that provides support to an organism
Japanese:
骨格
(kokkaku)
— system that provides support to an organism
Japanese:
骸骨
(gaikotsu)
— system that provides support to an organism
Kannada:
ಅಸ್ಥಿಪಮ್ಜರ
(asthipamjara)
— system that provides support to an organism
Kapampangan:
bangkala
— system that provides support to an organism
Kazakh:
қаңқа
(qañqa)
— system that provides support to an organism
Kazakh:
сүлде
(sülde)
— system that provides support to an organism
Khmer:
គ្រោងឆ្អឹង
(kroong chʼəng)
— system that provides support to an organism
Korean:
해골
(haegol)
— system that provides support to an organism
Korean:
골격
(golgyeok)
— system that provides support to an organism
Korean:
뼈대
(ppyeodae)
— system that provides support to an organism
Northern Kurdish:
kakût
— system that provides support to an organism
Northern Kurdish:
hestiyepeyker
— system that provides support to an organism
Kyrgyz:
скелет
(skelet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Kyrgyz:
сүлдөр
(süldör)
— system that provides support to an organism
Lao:
ໂຄງກະດູກ
(khōng ka dūk)
— system that provides support to an organism
Latin:
ossium compāgēs
— system that provides support to an organism
Latin:
sceletus
— system that provides support to an organism
Latvian:
skelets
— system that provides support to an organism
Latvian:
ģindenis
— system that provides support to an organism
Georgian:
კარა
(ǩara)
— system that provides support to an organism
Laz:
kara
— system that provides support to an organism
Lithuanian:
griaučiai
— system that provides support to an organism
Lithuanian:
skeletas
— system that provides support to an organism
Low German:
Skelett
— system that provides support to an organism
Luxembourgish:
Skelett
— system that provides support to an organism
Macedonian:
ске́лет
(skélet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Malay:
rangka
— system that provides support to an organism
Malayalam:
അസ്ഥികൂടം
(asthikūṭaṁ)
— system that provides support to an organism
Maltese:
skeletru
— system that provides support to an organism
Māori:
kōhiwihiwi
— system that provides support to an organism
Māori:
kōhī
— system that provides support to an organism
Māori:
tuahiwi
— system that provides support to an organism
Mongolian:
араг яс
(arag jas)
— system that provides support to an organism
Mongolian:
хэлхээ яс
(xelxee jas)
— system that provides support to an organism
Mongolian:
ноорог
(noorog)
— system that provides support to an organism
Khiamniungan Naga:
ūkīng
— system that provides support to an organism
Nahuatl:
miquiztetl
— system that provides support to an organism
Norman:
stchélatte
— system that provides support to an organism
Norman:
stchelette
— system that provides support to an organism
Norwegian Bokmål:
skjelett
— system that provides support to an organism
Norwegian Nynorsk:
skjelett
— system that provides support to an organism
Norwegian Nynorsk:
beingrind
— system that provides support to an organism
Occitan:
esqueleta
— system that provides support to an organism
Occitan:
escarcèla
— system that provides support to an organism
Occitan:
ossamenta
— system that provides support to an organism
Occitan:
esquelèt
— system that provides support to an organism
Southern Ohlone:
morkinis
— system that provides support to an organism
Pannonian Rusyn:
скелет
(skelet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Pannonian Rusyn:
косцанїк
(koscanjik)
— system that provides support to an organism
Pashto:
هډتړ
(haḍtaṛ)
— system that provides support to an organism
Pashto:
هډ مډ
(haḍmaḍ)
— system that provides support to an organism
Pashto:
هډ ګوډ
(haḍguḍ)
— system that provides support to an organism
Pashto:
ګرګی
(gərgay)
— system that provides support to an organism
Pashto:
ګګړه
(gagaṛa)
— system that provides support to an organism
Pashto:
اسکلېت
(eskelet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Iranian Persian:
اُسْتُخوانبَنْدی
(ostoxân-bandi)
— system that provides support to an organism
Iranian Persian:
اِسْکِلِت
(eskelet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Picard:
esquelette
— system that provides support to an organism
Piedmontese:
schèletro
— system that provides support to an organism
Polish:
szkielet
— system that provides support to an organism
Polish:
kościec
— system that provides support to an organism
Portuguese:
esqueleto
— system that provides support to an organism
Punjabi:
ਪਿੰਜਰ
(pijara)
— system that provides support to an organism
Quechua:
saqru
— system that provides support to an organism
Quechua:
karka
— system that provides support to an organism
Romanian:
schelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Romansh:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Russian:
скеле́т
(skelét)
— system that provides support to an organism
Sanskrit:
कङ्काल
(kaṅkāla)
— system that provides support to an organism
Sardinian:
ossamentu
— system that provides support to an organism
Scots:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Scottish Gaelic:
cnàimhneach
— system that provides support to an organism
Serbo-Croatian:
скѐлет
— system that provides support to an organism
Serbo-Croatian:
ко̏стӯр
— system that provides support to an organism
Serbo-Croatian:
окостје
— system that provides support to an organism
Serbo-Croatian:
skèlet
— system that provides support to an organism
Serbo-Croatian:
kȍstūr
— system that provides support to an organism
Serbo-Croatian:
okostje
— system that provides support to an organism
Slovak:
kostra
— system that provides support to an organism
Slovene:
okostje
— system that provides support to an organism
Slovene:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Somali:
qalfoof
— system that provides support to an organism
Lower Sorbian:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Lower Sorbian:
kósćeńc
— system that provides support to an organism
Upper Sorbian:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Upper Sorbian:
kosćowc
— system that provides support to an organism
Spanish:
esqueleto
— system that provides support to an organism
Spanish:
osamenta
— system that provides support to an organism
Spanish:
osatura
— system that provides support to an organism
Svan:
ჩო̈ნჩხ
(čönčx)
— system that provides support to an organism
Swahili:
kiunzi cha mifupa class 12/13
— system that provides support to an organism
Swedish:
skelett
— system that provides support to an organism
Swedish:
benstomme
— system that provides support to an organism
Swedish:
benrangel
— system that provides support to an organism
Tagalog:
kalansay
— system that provides support to an organism
Tajik:
скелет
(skelet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Tajik:
устухонбандӣ
(ustuxonbandi)
— system that provides support to an organism
Tamil:
எலும்புக்கூடு
(elumpukkūṭu)
— system that provides support to an organism
Tatar:
скелет
(skelet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Telugu:
అస్థి పంజరం
(asthi pañjaraṁ)
— system that provides support to an organism
Thai:
โครงกระดูก
(kroong-grà-dùuk)
— system that provides support to an organism
Tibetan:
ཀེང་རུས
(keng rus)
— system that provides support to an organism
Tigrinya:
ኣስከረን
(ʾaskärän)
— system that provides support to an organism
Tocharian B:
kwrāṣe
— system that provides support to an organism
Turkish:
iskelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Ottoman Turkish:
اسكلت
(iskelet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Ottoman Turkish:
قورو
(quru)
— system that provides support to an organism
Ottoman Turkish:
قدید
(qadîd)
— system that provides support to an organism
Turkmen:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Turkmen:
gaňňyl
— system that provides support to an organism
Tuvan:
скелет
(skelet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Tuvan:
мөчү сөөк
(möçü söök)
— system that provides support to an organism
Ukrainian:
скеле́т
(skelét)
— system that provides support to an organism
Urdu:
کَن٘کال
(kãkāl)
— system that provides support to an organism
Urdu:
اُسْتُخوان بَنْدی
(ustuxvān bandī)
— system that provides support to an organism
Uyghur:
ئىسكېلېت
(iskëlët)
— system that provides support to an organism
Uyghur:
ئۇستىخان
(ustixan)
— system that provides support to an organism
Uzbek:
skelet
— system that provides support to an organism
Vietnamese:
bộ xương
— system that provides support to an organism
Volapük:
bomem
— system that provides support to an organism
Võro:
luuvärk
— system that provides support to an organism
Walloon:
skèlète
— system that provides support to an organism
Welsh:
sgerbwd (formal: ysgerbwd m)
— system that provides support to an organism
Welsh:
celain
— system that provides support to an organism
Yakut:
дьардьама
(jarjama)
— system that provides support to an organism
Yiddish:
סקעלעט
(skelet)
— system that provides support to an organism
Zulu:
ugobhozi class 11/10
— system that provides support to an organism
Bulgarian:
скелет
(skelet)
— representation of a skeleton
Finnish:
luuranko
— representation of a skeleton
Ingrian:
skiletti
— representation of a skeleton
Polish:
kościej
— representation of a skeleton
Polish:
kościotrup
— representation of a skeleton
Tamil:
எலும்புக்கூடு
(elumpukkūṭu)
— representation of a skeleton
Tibetan:
གིང
(ging)
— representation of a skeleton
Tibetan:
གིང་ཕོ
(ging pho)
— representation of a skeleton
Tibetan:
གིང་མོ
(ging mo)
— representation of a skeleton
Tibetan:
གིང་ཀ་ར
(ging ka ra)
— representation of a skeleton
Armenian:
կմախք
(kmaxkʻ)
— very thin person
Asturian:
esqueletu
— very thin person
Bashkir:
һөлдә
(höldə)
— very thin person
Bulgarian:
скелет
(skelet)
— very thin person
Czech:
kostlivec
— very thin person
Dutch:
skelet
— very thin person
Dutch:
vel over vlees
— very thin person
Finnish:
luuranko
— very thin person
Galician:
esquelete
— very thin person
German:
Haut und Knochen
— very thin person
Ancient Greek:
κάναβος
(kánabos)
— very thin person
Irish:
cual cnámh
— very thin person
Kazakh:
сүлде
(sülde)
— very thin person
Latvian:
ģindenis
— very thin person
Latvian:
kaulu kambaris
— very thin person
Malayalam:
അസ്ഥികൂടം
(asthikūṭaṁ)
— very thin person
Malayalam:
എല്ലുംകോലി
(elluṅkōli)
— very thin person
Persian:
اسکلت
(eskelet)
— very thin person
Polish:
chudzielec
— very thin person
Polish:
szkielet
— very thin person
Portuguese:
esqueleto
— very thin person
Russian:
скеле́т
(skelét)
— very thin person
Russian:
ко́жа да ко́сти
(kóža da kósti)
— very thin person
Spanish:
esqueleto
— very thin person
Tamil:
எலும்புக்கூடு
(elumpukkūṭu)
— very thin person
Tamil:
எலும்பன்
(elumpaṉ)
— very thin person
Turkish:
iskelet
— very thin person
Finnish:
ydin
— central core of something
French:
squelette
— central core of something
French:
moelle
— central core of something
French:
cœur
— central core of something
Galician:
cerne
— central core of something
Malayalam:
അസ്തിവാരം
(astivāraṁ)
— central core of something
Polish:
szkielet
— central core of something
Tamil:
கட்டமைப்பு
(kaṭṭamaippu)
— central core of something
Asturian:
esqueletu
— frame that provides support to a building
Basque:
egitura
— frame that provides support to a building
Bulgarian:
рама
(rama)
— frame that provides support to a building
Bulgarian:
скелет
(skelet)
— frame that provides support to a building
Catalan:
estructura
— frame that provides support to a building
Dutch:
skelet
— frame that provides support to a building
Dutch:
geraamte
— frame that provides support to a building
Dutch:
ruwbouw
— frame that provides support to a building
Estonian:
karkass
— frame that provides support to a building
Finnish:
runko
— frame that provides support to a building
Galician:
esquelete
— frame that provides support to a building
German:
Rohbau
— frame that provides support to a building
Hebrew:
שֶׁלֶד
(shéled)
— frame that provides support to a building
Kazakh:
қаңқа
(qañqa)
— frame that provides support to a building
Malayalam:
അസ്തിവാരം
(astivāraṁ)
— frame that provides support to a building
Persian:
اسکلت
(eskelet)
— frame that provides support to a building
Polish:
szkielet
— frame that provides support to a building
Portuguese:
esqueleto
— frame that provides support to a building
Portuguese:
estrutura
— frame that provides support to a building
Russian:
скеле́т
(skelét)
— frame that provides support to a building
Russian:
о́стов
(óstov)
— frame that provides support to a building
Russian:
карка́с
(karkás)
— frame that provides support to a building
Russian:
костя́к
(kostják)
— frame that provides support to a building
Spanish:
estructura
— frame that provides support to a building
Tamil:
அடித்தளம்
(aṭittaḷam)
— frame that provides support to a building
Tamil:
கட்டமைப்பு
(kaṭṭamaippu)
— frame that provides support to a building