The difference between Backbone and Skeleton

When used as nouns, backbone means the series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals, whereas skeleton means the system that provides support to an organism, internal and made up of bones and cartilage in vertebrates, external in some other animals.


Skeleton is also verb with the meaning: to reduce to a skeleton.

check bellow for the other definitions of Backbone and Skeleton

  1. Backbone as a noun:

    The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals.

  2. Backbone as a noun (figuratively):

    Any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure.

    Examples:

    "Before automobiles, railroads were a backbone of commerce."

  3. Backbone as a noun (figuratively):

    Courage, fortitude, or strength.

    Examples:

    "He would make a good manager, if he had a little more backbone."

  1. Skeleton as a noun (anatomy):

    The system that provides support to an organism, internal and made up of bones and cartilage in vertebrates, external in some other animals.

  2. Skeleton as a noun:

    An anthropomorphic representation of a skeleton.

    Examples:

    "She dressed up as a skeleton for Halloween."

  3. Skeleton as a noun (figuratively):

    A very thin person.

    Examples:

    "She lost so much weight while she was ill that she became a skeleton."

  4. Skeleton as a noun (figuratively):

    The central core of something that gives shape to the entire structure.

    Examples:

    "The skeleton of the organisation is essentially the same as it was ten years ago, but many new faces have come and gone."

  5. Skeleton as a noun (architecture):

    A frame that provides support to a building or other construction.

  6. Skeleton as a noun (computing):

    A client-helper procedure that communicates with a stub.

    Examples:

    "In [[remote method invocation]], the client helper is a ‘stub’ and the service helper is a ‘skeleton’."

  7. Skeleton as a noun (geometry):

    The vertices and edges of a polyhedron, taken collectively.

  8. Skeleton as a noun (printing):

    A very thin form of light-faced type.

  1. Skeleton as a verb (archaic):

    to reduce to a skeleton; to skin; to skeletonize

  2. Skeleton as a verb (archaic):

    to minimize

  1. Skeleton as a noun (sports, uncountable):

    A type of tobogganing in which competitors lie face down, and descend head first (compare luge).

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