skeleton
skel‧e‧ton /ˈskelətən, ˈskelɪtən/
noun
1. BONES [countable]
a. the structure consisting of all the bones in a human or animal body:
the human skeleton
b. a set of these bones or a model of them, fastened in their usual positions, used, for example, by medical students
2. BASIC PARTS [singular] the most important parts of something, to which more detail can be added later:
We agreed on a skeleton outline of the proposal.
3. THIN PERSON [countable] an extremely thin person or animal:
The disease had reduced Harry to a skeleton.
4. STRUCTURE [countable] the main structure that supports a building, bridge etc:
Minutes after the explosion, all that remained was the skeleton of the bridge.
5. a skeleton in the closet (also a skeleton in the cupboard British English) an embarrassing or unpleasant secret about something that happened to you in the past
6. skeleton staff/crew/service etc only enough workers or services to keep an operation or organization running:
The bus company is operating a skeleton service on Christmas Day.
7. SPORT [countable, singular] a sport in which you slide down a special ice track while lying on your front on a type of sledge, or the vehicle you slide on ⇨ bobsleigh, luge
skel‧e‧ton /ˈskelətən, ˈskelɪtən/
noun Date: 1500-1600
Language: Modern Latin
Origin: Greek, from skeletos 'dried up'
Language: Modern Latin
Origin: Greek, from skeletos 'dried up'
1. BONES [countable]
a. the structure consisting of all the bones in a human or animal body:
b. a set of these bones or a model of them, fastened in their usual positions, used, for example, by medical students
2. BASIC PARTS [singular] the most important parts of something, to which more detail can be added later:
3. THIN PERSON [countable] an extremely thin person or animal:
4. STRUCTURE [countable] the main structure that supports a building, bridge etc:
5. a skeleton in the closet (also a skeleton in the cupboard British English) an embarrassing or unpleasant secret about something that happened to you in the past
6. skeleton staff/crew/service etc only enough workers or services to keep an operation or organization running:
7. SPORT [countable, singular] a sport in which you slide down a special ice track while lying on your front on a type of sledge, or the vehicle you slide on ⇨ bobsleigh, luge