Skellington vs. Skeleton — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Fiza Rafique — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 23, 2024
Skellington is the incorrect spelling of skeleton, which is the framework of bones supporting a body.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Skellington or Skeleton
How to spell Skeleton?
Skellington
Incorrect Spelling
Skeleton
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Think of "skeleton" as related to "bones," and remember both share the letter "e."
Note that "skellington" is often mistakenly used because of its association with popular culture, specifically "The Nightmare Before Christmas," but the correct term for the anatomical structure is "skeleton."
The word "skeleton" is derived from the Greek 'skeletos', meaning dried up, emphasizing the 'e's in the word.
How Do You Spell Skeleton Correctly?
Incorrect: She dressed up as a skellington for Halloween.
Correct: She dressed up as a skeleton for Halloween.
Incorrect: The artist used wires to create a model of a skellington.
Correct: The artist used wires to create a model of a skeleton.
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Incorrect: I learned about the human skellington in biology class.
Correct: I learned about the human skeleton in biology class.
Incorrect: An archaeologist discovered an ancient skellington buried in the sand.
Correct: An archaeologist discovered an ancient skeleton buried in the sand.
Incorrect: The museum has a dinosaur skellington on display.
Correct: The museum has a dinosaur skeleton on display.
Skeleton Definitions
The internal framework of bones in a vertebrate animal or human.
The skeleton supports the body and protects internal organs.
The fundamental structure or framework of anything.
The plot provided a skeleton on which the entire novel was built.
Something stripped down to its essentials.
The meeting was just a skeleton of the usual procedure due to time constraints.
In Halloween contexts, a common decorative figure representing a human figure.
Every October, their house is adorned with skeleton decorations.
A skeleton is a structural frame that supports an animal body. There are several different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body, the hydroskeleton, a flexible skeleton supported by fluid pressure, and the cytoskeleton present in the cytoplasm of all cells, including bacteria, and archaea.
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.
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.
A supporting structure or framework, as of a building.
An outline or sketch.
Something reduced to its basic or minimal parts.
One that is very thin or emaciated.
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.
The sled used in such a sport.
Of, relating to, or resembling a skeleton.
Reduced to the basic or minimal parts or members
A skeleton crew.
Of or relating to the sport of skeleton.
(anatomy) The system that provides support to an organism, internal and made up of bones and cartilage in vertebrates, external in some other animals.
An anthropomorphic representation of a skeleton.
She dressed up as a skeleton for Halloween.
(figuratively) A very thin person.
She lost so much weight while she was ill that she became a skeleton.
(figuratively) The central core of something that gives shape to the entire structure.
The skeleton of the organisation is essentially the same as it was ten years ago, but many new faces have come and gone.
(architecture) A frame that provides support to a building or other construction.
A client-helper procedure that communicates with a stub.
In remote method invocation, the client helper is a ‘stub’ and the service helper is a ‘skeleton’.
(geometry) The vertices and edges of a polyhedron, taken collectively.
(printing) A very thin form of light-faced type.
Reduced to a minimum or bare essentials.
(botany) The network of veins in a leaf.
A type of tobogganing in which competitors lie face down, and descend head first.
(archaic) To reduce to a skeleton; to skin; to skeletonize.
(archaic) To minimize.
The bony and cartilaginous framework which supports the soft parts of a vertebrate animal.
A very thin or lean person.
The great skeleton of the world.
The heads and outline of a literary production, especially of a sermon.
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.
Something reduced to its minimal form;
The battalion was a mere skeleton of its former self
The bare skeleton of a novel
A scandal that is kept secret;
There must be a skeleton somewhere in that family's closet
The hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal
The internal supporting structure that gives an artifact its shape;
The building has a steel skeleton
A very thin or emaciated person or animal.
After being lost in the wilderness, he was a skeleton of his former self.
Skeleton Meaning in a Sentence
She studied the skeleton of the bird to understand its flight mechanics.
The skeleton was hung in the classroom for the anatomy lesson.
That skeleton in the science lab always scared me.
In the haunted house, a skeleton popped out from around the corner.
They constructed a skeleton of the proposal for the meeting.
He could feel every bone in his skeleton during the cold night.
The doctor showed the skeleton to explain the fracture.
A cat's skeleton is extremely flexible.
The archaeologist was excited to find a complete skeleton.
The artist drew the skeleton with great detail.
Learning about the human skeleton helps us understand our body better.
Every skeleton in the museum has a story to tell.
The paleontologist carefully assembled the dinosaur skeleton.
The model included not only the skeleton but also detailed muscles.
The skeleton of the novel was outlined during the first draft.
Each skeleton in the exhibit had an informative plaque.
The skeleton key can open many old doors.
The team built a skeleton framework for the new software.
They used a crane to lift the massive skeleton of the whale.
The skeleton of the story needs more development.
The dance of the skeleton puppets was the highlight of the festival.
The biologist explained how a fish’s skeleton differs from a mammal’s.
The detective described the case as having only the skeleton of evidence.
The old house was a skeleton of its former glory.
Skeleton costumes are popular during Halloween.
Skeleton Idioms & Phrases
Skeleton in the closet
A secret source of shame, potentially embarrassing if revealed.
Everyone has at least one skeleton in the closet.
Skeleton key
A key that can open many locks, typically not requiring exact matches.
The old caretaker used a skeleton key for all the doors in the building.
Skeleton crew
The minimum number of personnel needed to operate and maintain an item at its most basic functional level.
Over the holidays, we'll be working with just a skeleton crew.
Bare bones or skeleton of something
Describing the basic elements or outline of something.
The first draft provided just the skeleton of the final report.
Skeleton at the feast
Something morbid that spoils general enjoyment.
The news of layoffs acted as a skeleton at the feast during the office party.
Common Curiosities
How is skeleton used in a sentence?
Skeleton is used as a noun to refer to the framework of bones in an organism.
Why is it called skeleton?
The term skeleton is derived from the Greek word 'skeletos', meaning dried up, referring to the appearance of dried bones.
What is the pronunciation of skeleton?
Skeleton is pronounced as /ˈskel.ɪ.tən/.
How many syllables are in skeleton?
Skeleton has three syllables.
How do we divide skeleton into syllables?
Skeleton is divided into syllables as skel-e-ton.
What is a stressed syllable in skeleton?
The stressed syllable in skeleton is the first syllable, 'skel'.
What is the root word of skeleton?
The root word of skeleton is the Greek 'skeletos'.
Is skeleton a noun or adjective?
Skeleton is a noun.
What is the verb form of skeleton?
Skeleton does not have a verb form; it is strictly a noun.
Is skeleton an adverb?
No, skeleton is not an adverb.
Is the word “skeleton” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Skeleton can be a direct object in a sentence.
Which vowel is used before skeleton?
The vowel "a" is often used before skeleton, as in "a skeleton."
Is skeleton a countable noun?
Yes, skeleton is a countable noun.
Is skeleton a collective noun?
No, skeleton is not typically considered a collective noun.
What is another term for skeleton?
Another term for skeleton could be "frame" or "framework."
What is the plural form of skeleton?
The plural form of skeleton is skeletons.
Is skeleton a negative or positive word?
Skeleton is neutral; it is neither inherently negative nor positive.
Is skeleton a vowel or consonant?
The term skeleton starts with a consonant.
Is the skeleton term a metaphor?
The term can be used metaphorically in phrases like "skeleton of a plan," referring to the basic structure.
What part of speech is skeleton?
Skeleton is a noun.
What is the opposite of skeleton?
The opposite of skeleton might be considered flesh or body, referring to the soft tissues as opposed to the hard structure.
Is skeleton an abstract noun?
No, skeleton is a concrete noun as it refers to a physical structure.
Is the word skeleton imperative?
No, skeleton cannot be imperative as it is a noun.
Is the word skeleton a Gerund?
No, skeleton is not a gerund; it remains a noun.
Which determiner is used with skeleton?
Determiners such as "a," "the," and "every" can be used with skeleton.
What is the singular form of skeleton?
The singular form is skeleton.
Which preposition is used with skeleton?
Common prepositions used with skeleton include "of," as in "skeleton of a bird."
Which conjunction is used with skeleton?
Conjunctions like "and" or "or" can be used with skeleton.
Which article is used with skeleton?
The articles "a" or "the" are commonly used with skeleton.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
