skeleton
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skeleton
The complete set of bones that supports the body of a human or vertebrate animal and gives it its shape.
Im Biologieunterricht hing ein lebensgroßes Modell eines menschlichen Skeletts.
In biology class, a life-size model of a human skeleton was hanging up.
The meaning of 'Skelett' (skeleton) becomes clear from the context. If the topic is biology, medicine, or archaeology, it refers to the bone structure. If the topic is architecture or construction, it refers to the basic supporting structure.
Archäologen haben das fast vollständige Skelett eines Dinosauriers gefunden.
Archaeologists found the almost complete skeleton of a dinosaur.
In the biological sense, 'Skelett' (skeleton) is often combined with the adjective 'menschlich' (human) or with verbs like 'finden' (to find), 'ausgraben' (to excavate), or 'untersuchen' (to examine).
Bei den Bauarbeiten wurde ein altes Skelett gefunden.
An old skeleton was found during the construction work.
In the figurative meaning, 'Skelett' (skeleton/framework) is very often used with a genitive attribute or the preposition 'von' (of) to specify what it is the basic structure of.
Das Skelett des Gebäudes besteht aus Stahlträgern.
The framework of the building consists of steel beams.
structure
'die Struktur' and 'das Skelett' can both describe something supporting or fundamental. 'Struktur' is the general word for the structure or order of parts. 'Skelett' first means the bones of a body. Figuratively, it means the supporting framework of something, for example a building, a plan, or an organization. The words can be confused when 'Skelett' is used figuratively. Then 'Skelett' is more concrete and emphasizes the framework on which everything else is built. 'Struktur' is more neutral and fits in many more situations.
Im Biologieunterricht betrachtet die Klasse das Skelett eines Menschen.
In biology class, the class looks at a human skeleton.
Wir ändern bei der Arbeit die Struktur des Plans, damit alle Aufgaben klarer sind.
At work, we are changing the structure of the plan so that all the tasks are clearer.