skeletal UK /ˈskɛl.ɪ.təl/US /ˈskɛl.ə.təl/adjective 4noun 1forms 3 adjective4 •of, or relating to the skeleton •barebones, lacking elaboration •Comprising only the base structure of a building, etc.After the bombing, only the skeletal remains of the city could be seen. •haggard, cadaverous, emaciated or gaunt noun1 •(informal) Shorthand for skeletal diagram (a black-and-white drawing of a [usually extinct] animal’s skeleton to be used as a reference for paleoart) formsskeletals · more skeletal · most skeletal