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| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Language: | Modern Latin |
| Origin: | Greek, from skeletos 'dried up' |
Related topics:
1
bones
[countable]a) HB the structure consisting of all the bones in a human or animal body : 
the human skeleton
the human skeletonb) M a set of these bones or a model of them, fastened in their usual positions, used for example by medical students
2 the most important parts of something, to which more detail can be added later : We agreed on a skeleton outline of the proposal.
basic parts
[singular]We agreed on a skeleton outline of the proposal.3 an extremely thin person or animal : The disease had reduced Harry to a skeleton.
thin person
[countable]The disease had reduced Harry to a skeleton.4 the main structure that supports a building, bridge etc : Minutes after the explosion, all that remained was the skeleton of the bridge.
structure
[countable]Minutes after the explosion, all that remained was the skeleton of the bridge.5 an embarrassing or unpleasant secret about something that happened to you in the past
a skeleton in the closet
also a skeleton in the cupboard British English6 only enough workers or services to keep an operation or organization running : The bus company is operating a skeleton service on Christmas Day.
skeleton staff/crew/service etc
The bus company is operating a skeleton service on Christmas Day.7 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
