- the bones of a human or an animal considered as a whole, together forming the framework of the body.
- any of various structures forming a rigid framework in an invertebrate.
- an emaciated person or animal.
- a supporting framework, as of a leaf, building, or ship.
- an outline, as of a literary work: the skeleton of the plot.
- something reduced to its essential parts.
- of or relating to a skeleton.
- like or being a mere framework; reduced to the essential or minimal parts or numbers: a skeleton staff.
- a person or thing that casts gloom over a joyful occasion; a note or reminder of sorrow in the midst of joy.
- skeleton in the closet / cupboard,
- a family scandal that is concealed to avoid public disgrace.
- any embarrassing, shameful, or damaging secret.
- 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
- a very thin emaciated person or animal
- the essential framework of any structure, such as a building or leaf, that supports or determines the shape of the rest of the structure
- an outline consisting of bare essentials
- reduced to a minimum
- a scandalous fact or event in the past that is kept secret
