skeleton

skeleton
skel|e|ton [ˈskelıtən] n
↑backbone, ↑breastbone, ↑collarbone, ↑kneecap, ↑pelvis, ↑skull, ↑spine, ↑rib
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
1¦(bones)¦
2¦(basic parts)¦
3¦(thin person)¦
4¦(structure)¦
5 a skeleton in the closet
6 skeleton staff/crew/service etc
7¦(sport)¦
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
[Date: 1500-1600; : Modern Latin; Origin: Greek, from skeletos 'dried up']
1.) ¦(BONES)¦
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)¦
an extremely thin person or animal
▪ The disease had reduced Harry to a skeleton.
4.) ¦(STRUCTURE)¦
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 BrE
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)¦ [C, 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

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?
Synonyms:
/ , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Skeleton — Fédération internationale FIBT (fondée en 1923) Sport olympique depuis Depuis 1928 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Skeleton — Skel e*ton, a. Consisting of, or resembling, a skeleton; consisting merely of the framework or outlines; having only certain leading features of anything; as, a skeleton sermon; a skeleton crystal. [1913 Webster] {Skeleton bill}, a bill or draft… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • skeleton — [skel′ə tən] n. [ModL < Gr < skeleton (sōma), dried (body), mummy < skeletos, dried up, akin to sklēros, dry, hard < IE base * (s)kel > SHALLOW] 1. the hard framework of an animal body, supporting the tissues and protecting the… …   English World dictionary

  • skeleton — ● skeleton nom masculin (anglais skeleton, du grec skeletos, squelette) Sorte de luge utilisée sur piste de neige durcie ou de glace, sur laquelle le coureur est couché à plat ventre. Sport pratiqué avec cet engin. (Le skeleton est redevenu… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • skeleton — UK US /ˈskelɪtən/ adjective [before noun] ► used to describe something in its most basic form: »His solicitor confirmed he had faxed a skeleton argument supporting his client s application for bail. »The rail company was hoping to run a skeleton… …   Financial and business terms

  • skeleton — 1570s, from Mod.L. sceleton bones, bony framework of the body, from Gk. skeleton soma dried up body, mummy, from neut. of skeletos dried up, from skellein dry up, from PIE root *skele to parch, whither (Cf. Gk. skleros hard ). The Greek word was… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Skeleton — Skel e*ton, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ???? (sc. ???) a dried body, a mummy, fr. ???? dried up, parched, ???? to dry, dry up, parch.] 1. (Anat.) (a) The bony and cartilaginous framework which supports the soft parts of a vertebrate animal. Note: [See… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • skeleton — ► NOUN 1) an internal or external framework of bone, cartilage, or other rigid material supporting or containing the body of an animal or plant. 2) a very thin or emaciated person or animal. 3) a supporting framework, basic structure, or… …   English terms dictionary

  • skeleton — skèletōn m DEFINICIJA sport 1. disciplina sanjkanja u kojoj se upotrebljavaju specijalne sanjke 2. vrsta sanjki na kojima natjecatelj leži potrbuške ETIMOLOGIJA engl. skeleton, usp. skelet …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • Skeleton — Skeleton, s. Schlitten, S. 870 …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Skeleton — Skelĕton, niedriger Sportschlitten (Rutschschlitten) mit senkrechten Streben, den der Fahrer, auf dem Bauche liegend, mit den nach hinten gestreckten Beinen steuert …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”