exoskeleton
noun
exo·skel·e·ton
ˌek-sō-ˈske-lə-tən 
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
Examples of exoskeleton in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The ground will be covered with young cicadas and discarded exoskeletons, and trees and plants will be filled with adults, Evan Lampert, an insect ecologist at the University of North Georgia, tells ABC News.
—
Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024
Trillions of periodical cicadas will emerge from the ground this spring, bringing with them their loud buzzing and molted exoskeletons.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024
Notre-Dame Cathedral sat in the pre-dawn chill like a spaceship docked in the heart of Paris, its exoskeleton of scaffolding lit by bright lights.
—Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Robotic exoskeletons are another groundbreaking development, particularly for individuals recovering from severe injuries like those sustained in motorcycle accidents.
—Kyle Russell, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
The role of robotics in physical therapy extends to areas beyond exoskeletons.
—Kyle Russell, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
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
Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024
Trillions of periodical cicadas will emerge from the ground this spring, bringing with them their loud buzzing and molted exoskeletons.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024
Notre-Dame Cathedral sat in the pre-dawn chill like a spaceship docked in the heart of Paris, its exoskeleton of scaffolding lit by bright lights.
—Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Robotic exoskeletons are another groundbreaking development, particularly for individuals recovering from severe injuries like those sustained in motorcycle accidents.
—Kyle Russell, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
The role of robotics in physical therapy extends to areas beyond exoskeletons.
—Kyle Russell, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
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
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
Dictionary Entries Near exoskeleton
Cite this Entry
“Exoskeleton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exoskeleton. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
exoskeleton
noun
exo·skel·e·ton
ˌek-sō-ˈskel-ət-ᵊn
: 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
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
More from Merriam-Webster on exoskeleton
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for exoskeleton
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about exoskeleton
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