plural of skeleton

Pertaining to the skeleton. / In a skeletal manner; like a skeleton.

(chemistry) A structural formula which is reduced (i.e., skeletal) in the sense that carbon atoms forming the backbone of the structure (esp. of an organic compound) are not labeled — they are shown simply as vertices — and hydrogen atoms are not shown at all (except those which are bonded to heteroatoms, or the exceptionally labeled carbon atoms) but heteroatoms are always labeled. (Labels of labeled hydrogen atoms are written next to labels of the atoms that they are bonded to, without a bond drawn between them. If there are several labeled hydrogen atoms bonded to the same atom then they are written as an H with a subscript for their number.) Carbon atoms which are (optionally) labeled tend to be in reactive extremities of the molecule, not the backbone of it.

(anatomy) The voluntary muscle of vertebrates, which is striated and anchored by tendons to bone and is used to effect skeletal movement such as locomotion.

of, or relating to the skeleton / haggard, cadaverous, emaciated or gaunt / barebones, lacking elaboration

simple past tense and past participle of skeletalize

(transitive) To reduce to a bare or skeletal form.

The process of making something skeletal, or reducing it to the barest form.

(rare) The process of making something skeletal, or reducing it to the barest form.

present participle of skeletalize