skeleton

skeletontop: human skeletonbottom:architectural skeleton

skel·e·ton

S0446000 (skĕl′ĭ-tn)n.1. a. The internal structure that protects and supports the soft organs, tissues, and other parts of a vertebrate organism, and is composed of bone and cartilage or, in certain animals, cartilage alone.b. The hard external structure that supports, protects, or contains the body of many invertebrates, such as mollusks, crustaceans, and corals, and certain vertebrates, such as turtles.2. A supporting structure or framework, as of a building.3. An outline or sketch.4. Something reduced to its basic or minimal parts.5. One that is very thin or emaciated.6. a. A sport in which a person glides down an icy track head-first lying on one's stomach on a compact, simple sled that lacks steering or brakes.b. The sled used in such a sport.adj.1. Of, relating to, or resembling a skeleton.2. Reduced to the basic or minimal parts or members: a skeleton crew.3. Of or relating to the sport of skeleton.Idiom: skeleton in (one's) closet A source of shame or disgrace, as in a family, that is kept secret.

[Greek skeleton (sōma), dried-up (body), neuter of skeletos, from skellesthai, to dry up.]

skeleton

(ˈskɛlɪtən) n1. (Zoology) a hard framework consisting of inorganic material that supports and protects the soft parts of an animal's body and provides attachment for muscles: may be internal (an endoskeleton), as in vertebrates, or external( an exoskeleton), as in arthropods. See also endoskeleton, exoskeleton2. informal a very thin emaciated person or animal3. the essential framework of any structure, such as a building or leaf, that supports or determines the shape of the rest of the structure4. an outline consisting of bare essentials: the skeleton of a novel. 5. (modifier) US and Canadian reduced to a minimum: a skeleton staff. 6. skeleton in the cupboard US and Canadian skeleton in the closet a scandalous fact or event in the past that is kept secret[C16: via New Latin from Greek: something desiccated, from skellein to dry up] ˈskeletal adj ˈskeletally adv ˈskeleton-ˌlike adj

skel•e•ton

(ˈskɛl ɪ tn)

n. 1. the bones of a vertebrate considered as a whole, together forming the internal framework of the body. 2. any of various structures forming a rigid framework in certain invertebrates. 3. an emaciated person or animal. 4. a supporting framework, as of a leaf, building, or ship. 5. an outline, as of a literary work: the skeleton of the plot. 6. something reduced to its essential parts. adj. 7. of or pertaining to a skeleton. 8. reduced to the essential or minimal parts or numbers: a skeleton staff. Idioms: skeleton in the closet or cupboard, any embarrassing, shameful, or damaging secret. [1570–80; < New Latin < Greek: dried corpse, skeleton, n. use of neuter of skeletós dried up, v. adj. of skéllein to dry]

skel·e·ton

(skĕl′ĭ-tn)1. The internal structure of vertebrate animals, composed of bone or cartilage, that supports the body, serves as a framework for the attachment of muscles, and protects the vital organs and associated structures.2. A hard protective covering or supporting structure of invertebrate animals. See also endoskeleton, exoskeleton.

skeletal adjective

skeleton

The bony framework that protects and supports the body’s soft tissues.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	skeleton - something reduced to its minimal form; "the battalion was a mere skeleton of its former self"; "the bare skeleton of a novel"lower limit, minimum - the smallest possible quantity
	2.	skeleton - a scandal that is kept secret; "there must be a skeleton somewhere in that family's closet"skeleton in the closet, skeleton in the cupboardscandal, outrage - a disgraceful event
	3.	skeleton - the hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animalskeletal system, systema skeletale, framesystem - a group of physiologically or anatomically related organs or parts; "the body has a system of organs for digestion"musculoskeletal system - the system of muscles and tendons and ligaments and bones and joints and associated tissues that move the body and maintain its formskeletal structure - any structure created by the skeleton of an organismendoskeleton - the internal skeleton; bony and cartilaginous structure (especially of vertebrates)exoskeleton - the exterior protective or supporting structure or shell of many animals (especially invertebrates) including bony or horny parts such as nails or scales or hoofs
	4.	skeleton - the internal supporting structure that gives an artifact its shape; "the building has a steel skeleton"skeletal frame, underframe, frameaircraft - a vehicle that can flybuilding, edifice - a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it was an imposing edifice"chassis - the skeleton of a motor vehicle consisting of a steel frame supported on springs that holds the body and motorhoop - a light curved skeleton to spread out a skirtship - a vessel that carries passengers or freightsupporting structure - a structure that serves to support something

skeleton

noun1. bones, bare bones a human skeleton2. frame, shell, framework, basic structure Only skeletons of buildings remained in the area.3. plan, structure, frame, draft, outline, framework, sketch, abstract, blueprint, main points a skeleton of policy guidelinesadjective1. minimum, reduced, minimal, essential Only a skeleton staff remains to see anyone interested around the site.

skeleton

nounA preliminary plan or version, as of a written work:draft, outline, rough, sketch.

Translations

框架骨架骨骼骷髅

skeleton

(ˈskelitn) noun1. the bony framework of an animal or person. The archaeologists dug up the skeleton of a dinosaur. 骨骼，骨架 2. any framework or outline. the steel skeleton of a building. （建筑、组织、计划等）骨架，框架 skeleton key a key which can open many different locks. 万能钥匙

skeleton

→ 骷髅zhCN

skeleton

skeleton,

in winter sports, a type of small, very low, steel-frame sledsled,
vehicle that moves by sliding. A sledge is typically a heavier, load-carrying sled drawn by a horse or dog, while a sleigh is a partially enclosed horse-drawn vehicle with runners that has seats for passengers.
..... Click the link for more information. on which one person, lying face down, slides headfirst down snowy hillsides or down steeply banked, curving, iced chutes similar to those used in lugeluge
, a type of small sled on which one or two persons, lying face up, slide feet first down snowy hillsides or down steeply banked, curving, iced chutes similar to those used in bobsledding.
..... Click the link for more information. and bobsleddingbobsledding,
winter sport in which a bobsled—a partially enclosed vehicle with steerable sledlike runners, accommodating two or four persons—hurtles down a course of iced, steeply banked, twisting inclines.
..... Click the link for more information. . Steering is accomplished by shifting weight or dragging the feet. Originally called tobogganing, skeleton was invented in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in the late 19th cent. It was an event in the Winter Olympic Games in 1928 and 1948, when the games were held in St. Moritz; it became a regular event for men and women in 2002.

skeleton,

in anatomy, the stiff supportive framework of the body. The two basic types of skeleton found among animals are the exoskeleton and the endoskeleton. The shell of the clam is an exoskeleton composed primarily of calcium carbonate. It provides formidable protection, but it is bulky and severely restrictive of movement. The smallest exoskeletons are found on microscopic animals such as diatoms and certain protozoans. Coral reefs are made up of the accumulated exoskeletons of the coral polyp. The firm, flexible, chitinous (horny) insect skeleton is a combination of protective armor and a framework for attachment of the muscles used in rapid movement. The disadvantage of an exoskeleton is that it is nonliving, and must be shed periodically to allow for growth—a process limiting the maximum size of the organism.

The endoskeleton, a framework of living material enclosed within the body, permits larger size coupled with freedom of movement and is characteristic of vertebrate animals. In certain fish, it is made up entirely of cartilagecartilage
, flexible semiopaque connective tissue without blood vessels or nerve cells. It forms part of the skeletal system in humans and in other vertebrates, and is also known as gristle.
..... Click the link for more information. , but in most vertebrates it is a mixture of bonebone,
hard tissue that forms the skeleton of the body in vertebrate animals. In the very young, the skeleton is composed largely of cartilage and is therefore pliable, reducing the incidence of bone fracture and breakage in childhood.
..... Click the link for more information. and cartilage. The general arrangement of skeletal parts into skullskull,
the skeletal structure of the head, composed of the facial and cranial bones. The skull houses and protects the brain and most of the chief sense organs; i.e., the eyes, ears, nose, and tongue.
..... Click the link for more information. , spinal columnspinal column,
bony column forming the main structural support of the skeleton of humans and other vertebrates, also known as the vertebral column or backbone. It consists of segments known as vertebrae linked by intervertebral disks and held together by ligaments.
..... Click the link for more information. , ribsrib,
one of the slender, elongated, curved bones that compose the chest cage in higher vertebrates. Ribs occur in pairs, and are found in most vertebrates; however, in some lower vertebrates, including fishes, they run along the entire length of the backbone.
..... Click the link for more information. , and appendages is the same in all vertebrates. In addition to its supportive function, the skeleton provides sites for the attachment of the muscles used in movement and shields vital organs such as the brain and lungs. The skeleton of birds is especially adapted for flight; the bones are modified into light, hollow tubes penetrated by air sacs.

The human skeleton consists of 206 bones held together by flexible tissue consisting of cartilage and ligamentsligament
, strong band of white fibrous connective tissue that joins bones to other bones or to cartilage in the joint areas. The bundles of collagenous fibers that form ligaments tend to be pliable but not elastic.
..... Click the link for more information. . It is composed of two basic parts, the axial and the appendicular skeletons. The axial skeleton includes the cranium, jawbone, ribs, sternum, and spinal column. The appendicular skeleton is made up of the upper (shoulder or pectoral) and lower (pelvic) girdles (see pelvispelvis,
bony, basin-shaped structure that supports the organs of the lower abdomen. It receives the weight of the upper body and distributes it to the legs; it also forms the base for numerous muscle attachments.
..... Click the link for more information. ) and the bones of the arms and legs. Many diseases associated with the skeleton occur at the joints, notably the various types of arthritisarthritis,
painful inflammation of a joint or joints of the body, usually producing heat and redness. There are many kinds of arthritis. In its various forms, arthritis disables more people than any other chronic disorder.
..... Click the link for more information. , although such diseases as bone cancer may directly affect the skeleton. Skeletal remains are vital to physical anthropologists, who use them to trace human evolution.

Bibliography

See P. Shipman, A. Walker, and D. Bichell, The Human Skeleton (1985).

Skeleton

in animals and humans, the collective hard tissue that supports the body and protects it from mechanical injury.

There are external and internal skeletons. Most invertebrates have an external skeleton, usually in the form of a shell or cuticle. In many protozoans the shell is secreted by the outer layer of cytoplasm and impregnated with mineral salts or encrusted with grains of sand. The most common shells are those of mol-lusks (spirally coiled, bivalve, multichambered) and brachio-pods (bivalve). Many worms and especially arthropods are characterized by a cuticular exoskeleton. Among arthropods the cuticle forms an external shell made of chitin. The chitinous shell does not grow but is periodically shed and replaced by a new shell. The growth of the animal coincides with the molting periods. Individual chitinous layers may be joined by flexible membranes; muscles are attached to the layers from within. Hydroid colonies are covered by a common skeletal integument called a perisarc. The calcareous skeleton of madreporari-ans (stony corals) is also an exoskeleton. However, the ectoderm that secretes the skeleton forms folds extending deeply into the body.

The simplest endoskeleton among invertebrates is found in sponges and is formed by calcareous and siliceous needles called spicules. The internal horny or calcareous skeleton of horny corals is derived from an exoskeleton (ectodermal skeleton). The calcareous skeleton of echinoderms, which is deeply embedded in the skin, is formed by the mesoderm. Cephalo-pods have an internal cartilaginous skeleton that protects the brain and eyes. The gills of marine polychaetes also have a cartilaginous skeleton.

Among the lower chordates (acraniates) the endoskeleton is a long axial structure called a cord. In vertebrates the endoskeleton is divided into the axial skeleton, the skull (the bony framework of the head), and the skeleton of the extremities. In embryos the endoskeleton, which is initially cartilaginous, is gradually and usually partially replaced by bone. In cyclo-stomes and chondrichthians the skeleton remains cartilaginous for the entire life of the animal. Bones and cartilage may be joined by flexible joints or may lack mobility. The axial skeleton is usually represented by a spine, which consists of individual vertebrae that replace the embryonic cord. The upper processes, or arches, of the vertebrae join to form the cerebrospinal canal, which contains the spinal cord. The ribs, which are attached to the centrums (vertebral bodies), articulate with the sternum to form the thorax in reptiles, birds, and mammals. In chondrichthians the centrums are cartilaginous, whereas among higher fishes and terrestrial vertebrates they are bony. Among lower aquatic vertebrates, including cyclostomes, chi-maeras, Acipenseridae, and dipnoans, centrums are absent and the axial skeleton is represented by a cord, along which are found cartilaginous or bony arches.

In fish the extremities are represented by unpaired fins (dorsal, anal, caudal) and paired fins (pectoral and pelvic). The skeleton of the fins is formed by cartilaginous or bony fin rays. Cyclostomes do not have paired fins. The rays of paired fins are supported by girdles, which are cartilaginous or bony layers located deep in the muscles. In terrestrial vertebrates unpaired fins disappear and paired fins become pentadactyl lever-type extremities. The girdle of the posterior extremities, which is called the pelvic girdle, is attached to the sacral vertebrae. In birds and bats the anterior extremities have become wings. The skull is divided into a brain section, which contains the brain and the organs of smell, hearing, and (partially) sight, and the visceral skeleton, which is represented by the jaws and gill arches. The jaws develop from anterior gill arches. (Cyclostomes do not have jaws.)

In terrestrial vertebrates gill arches have evolved into the auditory ossicle (stapes), the skeleton of the hypoglossal apparatus, and the skeleton of the larynx.

The exoskeleton, or dermal skeleton, which is absent in cyclostomes, is found in fish in the form of scales. Teeth are derivatives of scales and in microscopic structure are very similar to the placoid scales of chondrichthians. The membrane, or dermal, bones of the head and humeral girdle of higher fish and terrestrial vertebrates are also derivatives of thickened scale formations. On the head, membrane bones join tightly with and partially replace the endoskeleton. Bony scales derived from fish are found among terrestrial vertebrates in stegocephalians and among modern amphibians in caecilians.

Transformed fish scales have been preserved in many reptiles in the form of abdominal ribs. Bony scales or layers may be found on the skin of terrestrial vertebrates even secondarily; they are well developed among crocodiles and some saurians, whereas among testudinates and dasypodids (mammals) they form an external bony shell. Among testudinates the shell joins with the vertebrae and ribs.

L. P. TATARINOV

The human skeleton consists of the skull, the extremities, and the trunk. There are more than 200 bones in the body. The human skeleton has the same general structure as the skeleton of higher vertebrate animals and is most similar to the skeleton of anthropoid apes. It is distinguished from the skeleton of anthropoid apes by the structure and greater capacity of the skull, the form of the bones of the extremities (resulting in functional changes among humans), and the shape of the spine and pelvis (caused by walking upright).

Toward the end of the second month of intrauterine development the fibrous skeleton turns into the cartilaginous base of future bones, whose growth and development is complete at 25 or 26 years of age. The stages of ossification as shown by X-ray photographs can be used to determine an individual’s age. The aging process affects skeletal bones in middle-aged and elderly individuals. The amount of calcium in bone cells decreases, a process accompanied by osteoporosis. The bone surfaces become more pronounced where ligaments and muscles join. The aging process is also reflected in the corrugation of intervertebral disks, which often causes the thoracic spine to curve in the elderly (kyphosis).

Sexual differences exist in the structure of the skeleton. Compared to women, men have relatively more massive bones of the extremities, a narrower pelvis, and a broader thorax. Diseases of the skeleton are associated with metabolic disorders (particularly in bony tissue) and with disorders of some endocrine glands. Various developmental disturbances of skeletal bones during the prenatal period are manifested as congenital bone deformations.

V. F. POZHARISKII

In paleoanthropology the skeleton is the main source used in studying human morphological evolution and in reconstructing the physical appearance of man’s ancestors. The earliest and most important transformations of the skeleton in the process of anthropogenesis are associated with the development of erect posture. Adaptation of the skeleton of the lower extremities for walking on two legs is evident in such early primates as Australopithecines and related forms. All later hominids, including archanthropines and Paleoanthropus, were fully able to walk upright because of the structure of the axial skeleton and the lower extremities.

Paleoanthropology has less information on the evolution of the arms, but based on existing data it can be assumed that the modern type of human hand developed in the late stages of anthropogenesis among the progressive forms of ancient peoples (Palaeoanthropus). The same situation is probably true of the human skull. Some species of Palaeoanthropus, including Neanderthal man, exhibited unique morphological skeletal traits resulting from functional changes, especially in the structure of the hand and foot.

Skeletal studies also clarify some aspects of the vital activities of modern man’s fossil precursors. Thus, on the basis of osteo-logic data it is possible to indirectly assess the state of some functional systems, including hormone balance (paleoendocrinology), diet (the manifestation of protein deficiencies and bone pigmentation), growth characteristics (the rate of skeletal growth, teething periods, premature and physiological aging), sexual dimorphism, and diseased states (studied by paleo-pathology).

E. N. KHRISANFOVA

REFERENCES

Dogel’, V. A. Sravnitel’naia anatomiia bespozvonochnykh, part 1. Leningrad, 1938.
Shmal’gauzen, I. I. Osnovy sravnitel’noi anatomii pozvonochnykh zhivotnykh, 4th ed. Moscow, 1947.
Ivanov, G. F. Osnovy normal’noi anatomii cheloveka, vol. 1. Moscow, 1949.
Bystrov, A. P. Proshloe, nastoiashchee, budushchee cheloveka. Leningrad, 1957.
Roginskii, Ia. Ia., and M. G. Levin. Antropologiia, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1963.
Beklemishev, V. N. Osnovy sravnitel’noi anatomii bespozvonochnykh, 3rd ed., vols. 1-2. Moscow, 1964.
Sinel’nikov, R. D. Atlas anatomii cheloveka, 4th ed., vol. 1. Moscow, 1972. [23–1494–]

What does it mean when you dream about a skeleton?

numerals in the number 16 add up to seven, a lucky number.

What does it mean when you dream about a skeleton?

A dream about a skeleton is often about death or something within us that has died. Like ancient ruins, a skeleton can symbolize the past, too. Also note the familiar idiom about the “skeleton in the closet.”

skeleton

[′skel·ət·ən] (anatomy) skeletal system (mathematics) For a simplex, the set of all the vertices. For a simplicial complex, the class of all simplexes which belong to the simplicial complex and have dimension less than that of the simplicial complex.

skeleton

visual representation of death. [Western Folklore: Cirlot, 298]See: Death

skeleton

a hard framework consisting of inorganic material that supports and protects the soft parts of an animal's body and provides attachment for muscles: may be internal, as in vertebrates (see endoskeleton), or external, as in arthropods (see exoskeleton)

Skeleton

(dreams)You can’t get around the fact that bones are symbols of death. If you are dreaming about a skeleton, it does not necessarily mean that you are dreaming about physical death. This is a good dream because it is telling you that you may need to begin “filling up” with feelings, adventures, work, or general enthusiasm for life. It may be that your style of living and relating to people has been “bare to the bone” and your soul can’t take it any more! So, lighten up psychologically; eat the fruits of life and fatten up!

skeleton

skel·e·ton

skeleton

skel•e•ton

skel·e·ton

skeleton

skeleton

skeleton

skeleton

skeleton

skeleton

have (a) skeleton(s) in (one's)/the closet

have (a) skeleton(s) in (one's)/the cupboard

skeleton crew

skeleton in the/(one's) closet

skeleton in the/(one's) cupboard

skeleton at the feast

skeleton(s) in the closet

skeleton in the closet

a skeleton in the closet

a skeleton in the cupboard

a skeleton in the cupboard

a skeleton ˈcrew/ˈstaff/ˈservice

a skeleton in the ˈcupboard/ˈcloset

skeleton in (one's) closet

skeleton in the closet, the

skeleton in the closet

skeleton

skeleton,

skeleton,

Bibliography

Skeleton

REFERENCES

What does it mean when you dream about a skeleton?

What does it mean when you dream about a skeleton?

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Skeleton

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skel·e·ton

skeleton

menopause

skel·e·ton

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appendicular skeleton

axial skeleton

cartilaginous skeleton

skeleton

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skel·e·ton

skeleton

Synonyms for skeleton

noun bones

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noun frame

Synonyms

noun plan

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adj minimum

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Synonyms for skeleton

noun a preliminary plan or version, as of a written work

Synonyms

Synonyms for skeleton

noun something reduced to its minimal form

Related Words

noun a scandal that is kept secret

Synonyms

Related Words

noun the hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal

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Related Words

noun the internal supporting structure that gives an artifact its shape

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Related Words