Dictionary

exoskeleton en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰ Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₁eǵʰs Proto-Hellenic *eks Ancient Greek ἐκ (ek) Ancient Greek ἔξω (éxō)der. English exo- English skeleton English exoskeleton From exo- + skeleton.

Meanings

1. A hard outer structure that provides both structure and protection to creatures such as insects and Crustacea.
   • Ordinarily, allergy to animals is due to either their fine dander which becomes aerosolized or to the exoskeleta, pupae, or feces of their ectoparasites. 1982, R. V. Lynch, Jr.; R. Burrell, “Primate Dander Allergy of Lesser Bushbaby (Galago): A Case Report”, in D[uane] E. Haines, editor, The Lesser Bushbaby (Galago) as an Animal Model: Selected Topics, Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, Inc., →ISBN, page 304:
   • After separation, the next generation of daughters resumes the photosynthetic fixation (reduction) of carbon, the sequestration of phosphorus, nitrogen, and mineral nutrients (up to a score), and the synthesis of the proteins that will contribute to the generational doubling of biomass. Structures such as flagella, scales, and exoskeleta also have to be reallocated or copied. 2009, Klement Tockner, Gene E[lden] Likens, editors, Encyclopedia of Inland Waters, Academic Press, →ISBN:
   • Drawings supplied with NR's council application show a bridge with an exoskeleton that repeats some of the angles of Hitachi's '800' series trains which LNER and TransPennine Express run through the station. 2024 February 21, Philip Haigh, “Network News: New platforms and bridge to transform Darlington”, in RAIL, number 1003, page 12:
   • This is the case not only with all forms provided with exoskeleta and endoskeleta, into the composition of which lime largely enters, but also with those which exercise the precipitating effect on the calcium salts they absorb from sea water, the precipitation rarely going so far as to form a distinct deposit in the cells or tissues of the organism. 1903 January 17, A[rchibald] B[yron] Macallum, “The Palæochemistry of the Ocean in Relation to Animal and Vegetable Protoplasm”, in Transactions of the Canadian Institute, volume VII, Toronto, Ont.: […] for the Canadian Institute by Murray Printing Company, published 1904, section IV (The Composition of the Primeval Ocean), page 551:
2. A wearable robotic machine used for aided or augmented mobility.

Forms

Antonyms

endoskeleton

Deriveds

semiexoskeleton · exoskeletal

Relateds

carapace

Translations (44)

ast exocadarma (hard outer structure) · pl szkielet zewnętrzny (hard outer structure) · io exoskeleto (hard outer structure) · pt exoesqueleto (hard outer structure) · ast exoesqueletu (hard outer structure) · pt exosqueleto (hard outer structure) · it esoscheletro (hard outer structure) · cy sgerbwd allanol (hard outer structure) · sl eksoskelet (hard outer structure) · hu (külső/viselhető/hordható) robotváz (hard outer structure) · br ezrelegenn (hard outer structure) · fr exosquelette (hard outer structure) · es exoesqueleto (hard outer structure) · cs exoskelet (hard outer structure) · sl zunanji skelet (hard outer structure) · ru экзоскеле́т (hard outer structure) · sh egzoskelet (hard outer structure) · de Exoskelett (hard outer structure) · eo eksoskeleto (hard outer structure) · tl kalansay-panlabas (hard outer structure) · lt egzoskeletas (hard outer structure) · tr dış iskelet (hard outer structure) · sv exoskelett (hard outer structure) · ko 외골격 (hard outer structure) · cmn 外骨骼 (hard outer structure) · mi angawaho (hard outer structure) · el εξωσκελετός (hard outer structure) · id eksoskeleton (hard outer structure) · ar هَيْكَل خَارِجِيّ (hard outer structure) · vi bộ xương ngoài (hard outer structure) · es dermatoesqueleto (hard outer structure) · hu exoszkeleton (hard outer structure) · ja 外骨格 (hard outer structure) · cy allsgerbwd (hard outer structure) · pl egzoszkielet (hard outer structure) · fi ulkoinen tukiranka (hard outer structure) · ca exosquelet (hard outer structure) · la exosceletus (hard outer structure) · id rangka luar (hard outer structure) · et eksoskelett (hard outer structure) · ro exoschelet (hard outer structure) · sk exoskelet (hard outer structure) · af huidskelet (hard outer structure) · et välisskelett (hard outer structure)