<p><strong>noun</strong></p><ul><li>Anatomy, Zoology: the bones of a human or an animal considered as a whole, together forming the framework of the body.</li><li>any of various structures forming a rigid framework in an invertebrate.</li><li>an emaciated person or animal.</li><li>a supporting framework, as of a leaf, building, or ship.</li><li>an outline, as of a literary work: the skeleton of the plot.</li><li>something reduced to its essential parts.</li></ul><p><strong>adjective</strong></p><ul><li>of or relating to a skeleton.</li><li>like or being a mere framework; reduced to the essential or minimal parts or numbers: a skeleton staff.</li></ul>