exoskeleton

noun

exo·​skel·​e·​ton ˌek-sō-ˈske-lə-tən How to pronounce exoskeleton (audio)
1
: an external supportive covering of an animal (such as an arthropod)
2
: bony or horny parts of a vertebrate produced from epidermal tissues
3
: an artificial external supporting structure
exoskeletal adjective

Examples of exoskeleton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The bleaching victims, with all or swathes of their hard exoskeletons turned pale white, stand out like bones. Alie Skowronski, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024 These will include wearable robots (exoskeletons, powered gloves and jetpacks), manipulation systems (ISS cranes down to human scale) and lunar mobility systems (human surface mobility and robotic rovers). IEEE Spectrum, 24 Nov. 2023 Advertisement Of course, the prospect of eating the exoskeletons of creatures is probably going to reduce calorie consumption before the first bite. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Oct. 2023 How about design flaws of those animatronic exoskeletons?) and a motley crew of vandals bent on sabotage. Jen Yamato, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2023 University of Maryland researchers are changing the way people look at those thin exoskeletons — investigating the feasibility of putting them to work in an innovative battery. Abigail Gruskin, Baltimore Sun, 21 June 2023 Every so often, their legs curl and their spinnerets twitch—and the retinas of their eyes, visible through their translucent exoskeletons, shift back and forth. Carolyn Wilke, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2023 Every so often, their legs curl and their spinnerets twitch — and the retinas of their eyes, visible through their translucent exoskeletons, shift back and forth. Carolyn Wilke, Popular Science, 6 Sep. 2023 Documentary filmmaker Bob Poole and his sister, Joyce, needed to build a steel exoskeleton for a Land Rover Defender 110—for protection against elephants while filming War Elephants in Mozambique. Bob Poole, Car and Driver, 8 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exoskeleton.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exoskeleton was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near exoskeleton

Cite this Entry

“Exoskeleton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exoskeleton. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exoskeleton

noun
exo·​skel·​e·​ton ˌek-sō-ˈskel-ət-ᵊn How to pronounce exoskeleton (audio)
: a hard supporting or protective structure (as of an insect, spider, or crustacean) on the outside of the body

Medical Definition

exoskeleton

noun
exo·​skel·​e·​ton ˌek-sō-ˈskel-ət-ᵊn How to pronounce exoskeleton (audio)
1
: an external supportive covering of an animal (as the system of sclerites covering the body of an insect) compare endoskeleton
2
: bony or horny parts (as nails, hooves, or scales) of a vertebrate produced from epidermal tissues
exoskeletal adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on exoskeleton

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