B1nounsciencehealth
US/ˈskel.ə.tən/
UK/ˈskel.ɪ.tən/
the frame of bones that supports the body of a person or animal; also the basic structure of something
In context
The museum displays the complete skeleton of a dinosaur found in Asia.
The adult human skeleton is made up of 206 bones.
Only a skeleton staff works in the office during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Words that go with skeleton
adjective + noun
- human skeletonStudents learn the names of the bones in the human skeleton.
- complete skeletonScientists dug up an almost complete skeleton of a whale.
noun + noun
- dinosaur skeletonThe children were amazed by the giant dinosaur skeleton.
- skeleton staffThe factory runs with a skeleton staff on Sundays.
- skeleton crewA skeleton crew stayed on the ship while the others went ashore.
- skeleton keyThe hotel manager opened the door with a skeleton key.
noun + preposition
- skeleton in the closetEvery family has a skeleton in the closet that nobody talks about.