n.[C]

1. 骨骼；骸骨
   The ground floor of the museum is taken up by the skeleton of a dinosaur.

   博物館的底層為一具恐龍的骨骼佔據了。

2. 【口】骨瘦如柴的人（或動物）
   He was reduced to a skeleton.

   他瘦得只剩一把骨頭了。

3. （房屋等的）骨架；殘骸
   He centers his constructions around reinforced concrete or steel skeletons.

   他的建築主要是以鋼筋混凝土或鋼為骨架的。

4. 概略，大綱
   She told me about the skeleton of her new novel.

   她把自己一部新小說的梗概對我講了一遍。

5. 最基本的部分
6. （不可外揚的）醜事

a.[Z][B]

1. 骨骼的；骨瘦如柴的
2. 概略的
   The director set out the plan in skeleton form.

   主任提綱挈領地說明了這一計畫。

3. 最基本的；骨幹的
   Only a skeleton crew was needed while the ship was tied up in dock.

   在船停泊在船塢期間只需要骨幹船員。

n.

1. an internal or external framework of bone, cartilage, or other rigid material supporting or containing the body of an animal or plant.
   ▸a very thin or emaciated person or animal.
2. a supporting framework, basic structure, or essential part.
   ▸ [as modifier] denoting an essential or minimum number of people or things:

   a skeleton staff.