Something reduced to its minimal form.

Roget 626: plan, scheme, design, project; proposal, proposition, suggestion; resolution, motion; precaution etc. (provision) 673; deep-laid plan etc. (premeditated) 611; system etc. (order) 58; organization etc. (arrangement) 60; germ etc. (cause) 153.    sketch, skeleton, outline, draught, draft, ebauche [Fr.], brouillon [Fr.]; rough cast, rough draft, draught copy; copy; proof, revise.    drawing, scheme, schematic, graphic, chart, flow chart (representation) 554.    forecast, program, programme, prospectus; carte du pays [Fr.]; card; bill, protocol; order of the day, list of agenda; bill of fare etc. (food) 298; base of operations; platform, plank, slate [U.S.], ticket [U.S.].    role; policy etc. (line of conduct) 692.    contrivance, invention, expedient, receipt, nostrum, artifice, device; pipelaying [U.S.]; stratagem etc. (cunning) 702; trick etc. (deception) 545; alternative, loophole; shift etc. (substitute) 147; last shift etc. (necessity) 601.    measure, step; stroke, stroke of policy; master stroke; trump card, court card; cheval de bataille [Fr.], great gun; coup, coup d'etat [Fr.]; clever stroke, bold stroke, good move, good hit, good stroke; bright thought, bright idea.    intrigue, cabal, plot, conspiracy, complot^†, machination; subplot, underplot^†, counterplot.    schemer, schemist^†, schematist^†; strategist, machinator; projector, artist, promoter, designer etc. v.; conspirator; intrigant etc. (cunning) 702^†.    ... show more

Roget 203: narrowness etc. adj.; closeness, exility^†; exiguity etc. (little) 193.    line; hair's breadth, finger's breadth; strip, streak, vein.    monolayer; epitaxial deposition [Eng.].    thinness etc. adj.; tenuity; emaciation, macilency^†, marcor^†.    shaving, slip etc. (filament) 205; thread paper, skeleton, shadow, anatomy, spindleshanks^†, lantern jaws, mere skin and bone.    middle constriction, stricture, neck, waist, isthmus, wasp, hourglass; ridge, ghaut^†, ghat^†, pass; ravine etc. 198.    narrowing, coarctation^†, angustation^†, tapering; contraction etc. 195.    ... show more

Roget 362: corpse, corse^†, carcass, cadaver, bones, skeleton, dry bones; defunct, relics, reliquiae [Lat.], remains, mortal remains, dust, ashes, earth, clay; mummy; carrion; food for worms, food for fishes; tenement of clay this mortal coil.    shade, ghost, manes.    organic remains, fossils.    ... show more

A scandal that is kept secret:
— There must be a skeleton somewhere in that family's closet.

synonyms: skeleton in the closet, skeleton in the cupboard.

The hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal.

synonyms: frame, skeletal system, systema skeletale.

Roget 215: support, ground, foundation, base, basis; terra firma; bearing, fulcrum, bait [U.S.], caudex crib^†; point d'appui [Fr.], pou sto [Gr.], purchase footing, hold, locus standi [Lat.]; landing place, landing stage; stage, platform; block; rest, resting place; groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention; floor etc. (basement) 211.    supporter; aid etc. 707; prop, stand, anvil, fulciment^†; cue rest, jigger; monkey; stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage; sleeper; stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit^†, outrigger; ratlings^†.    staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle^†; bourdon^†, cowlstaff^†, lathi^†, mahlstick^†.    post, pillar, shaft, thill^†, column, pilaster; pediment, pedicle; pedestal; plinth, shank, leg, socle^†, zocle^†; buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment; baluster, banister, stanchion; balustrade; headstone; upright; door post, jamb, door jamb.    frame, framework; scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis^†, trave^†, corner stone, summer, transom; rung, round, step, sill; angle rafter, hip rafter; cantilever, modillion^†; crown post, king post; vertebra.    columella^†, backbone; keystone; axle, axletree; axis; arch, mainstay.    trunnion, pivot, rowlock^†; peg etc. (pendency) 214^†; tiebeam etc. (fastening) 45; thole pin^†.    board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet^†, trivet, arbor, rack; mantel, mantle piece [Fr.], mantleshelf^†; slab, console; counter, dresser; flange, corbel; table, trestle; shoulder; perch; horse; easel, desk; clotheshorse, hatrack; retable; teapoy^†.    seat, throne, dais; divan, musnud^†; chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall; arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair; couch, fauteuil [Fr.], woolsack^†, ottoman, settle, squab, bench; aparejo^†, faldstool^†, horn; long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair; lamba chauki^†, lamba kursi^†; saddle, pannel^†, pillion; side saddle, pack saddle; pommel.    bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed^†, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead; four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang^†; bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse^†; pillow, bolster; mat, rug, cushion.    footstool, hassock; tabouret^†; tripod, monopod.    Atlas, Persides, Atlantes^†, Caryatides, Hercules.    ... show more

Dutch: skelet, geraamte
Polish: szkielet, kościec, układ kostny

The internal supporting structure that gives an artifact its shape:
— The building has a steel skeleton.

synonyms: frame, skeletal frame, underframe.

Polish: szkielet