skeletal

S1K5E1L1E1T1A1L1
UK/ˈskɛl.ɪ.təl/UK/skəˈliː.təl/UK[ˈskɛl.ɪ.tl̩]UK[skəˈliː.tl̩]

noun

Shorthand for skeletal diagram (a black-and-white drawing of a [usually extinct] animal’s skeleton to be used as a reference for paleoart)

Similar
cadaverousemaciatedgaunthaggardpinchedwastedthinlean
OriginProto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? ← English skeleton →
Less commonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nounskeletal (plural skeletals)

plural skeletals · alternative sceletal

  1. informalbiologyShorthand for skeletal diagram (a black-and-white drawing of a [usually extinct] animal’s skeleton to be used as a reference for paleoart)
adjectiveskeletal (comparative more skeletal, superlative most skeletal)

comparative more skeletal · superlative most skeletal · alternative sceletal

  1. of, or relating to the skeleton
  2. haggard, cadaverous, emaciated or gaunt
  3. barebones, lacking elaboration

    On the whole, Sidney Morris has given us sketchy characters that need more fine tuning than this production […] could give it. Only Holmberg seemed to dig deeply within himself to create a complete character from Morris' skeletal outline.

    1983 August 20, Penny Landau, “The Reality Around Us: Two Gay Plays”, in Gay Community News, volume 11, number 6, page 17
  4. Comprising only the base structure of a building, etc.

    After the bombing, only the skeletal remains of the city could be seen.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivevery thin especially from disease or hunger or cold

Similar
cadaverousemaciatedgaunthaggardpinchedwastedthinlean
Also see
cadaverousemaciatedgaunthaggardpinchedwasted

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Englishskeleton
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  4. Englishskeletal

From skeleton + -al.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan esquelètic, esquelètic
  • esquelèticof, or relating to the skeleton
  • esquelètichaggard
Czech kosterní
  • kosterníof, or relating to the skeleton
Finnish skeletaalinen, luuranko-
  • skeletaalinenof, or relating to the skeleton
  • luuranko-of, or relating to the skeleton
  • riutunuthaggard
  • luisevahaggard
  • ylimalkainenbarebones, lacking elaboration
French squelettique, squelettique
  • squelettiqueof, or relating to the skeleton
  • squelettiquehaggard
German skelettal, Skelett-
  • skelettalof, or relating to the skeleton
  • Skelett-of, or relating to the skeleton
  • Knochen-of, or relating to the skeleton
  • skelett-of, or relating to the skeleton
Italian scheletrico
  • scheletricoof, or relating to the skeleton
Māori o te kōhiwi, puanga
  • o te kōhiwiof, or relating to the skeleton
  • puangahaggard
Portuguese esquelético
  • esqueléticoof, or relating to the skeleton
Romanian scheletic, scheletic
  • scheleticof, or relating to the skeleton
  • scheletichaggard
Spanish esquelético, esquelético
  • esqueléticoof, or relating to the skeleton
  • esqueléticohaggard
Tagalog kalansayin, pangalansay
  • kalansayinof, or relating to the skeleton
  • pangalansayof, or relating to the skeleton
Cite this entry
APA

skeletal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/skeletal

MLA

“skeletal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/skeletal. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “skeletal,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/skeletal.

Source: skeletal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.