skull

[ skuhl ]

noun

1. the bony framework of the head, enclosing the brain and supporting the face; the skeleton of the head.
2. the head as the center of knowledge and understanding; mind:

   to get literature's great ideas through our skulls.

3. Armor. the part of a helmet that covers the top of the head.

skull

/ skʌl /

noun

1. the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates See cranium cranial
2. derogatory.
   the head regarded as the mind or intelligence

   to have a dense skull

3. a picture of a skull used to represent death or danger

skull

/ skŭl /

1. The part of the skeleton that forms the framework of the head, consisting of the bones of the cranium, which protect the brain, and the bones of the face.
2. See more at skeleton

Other Words From

• skull-less adjective
• skull-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of skull¹

1175–1225; Middle English scolle < Old Norse skalli

Word History and Origins

Origin of skull¹

C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse skoltr, Norwegian skult, Swedish dialect skulle

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. out of one's skull, Slang. crazy; demented.

Example Sentences

Prosecutors told the court Ibarra saw Riley while she was running on the UGA campus and "bashed her skull in with a rock".

From BBC

She told MPs that this included a “foetal skeleton posed under a glass dome, a human thigh bone turned into a cane, a human jawbone necklace and the varnished skull of a six-year-old”.

From BBC

This happens everywhere except for the very top of the skull to give the brain space to grow.

From BBC

In the teaser below, we see an image of Xenomorph with an image of the Earth in a reflection of its shiny skull.

From Salon

For instance, a surgical operation can widen the opening at the base of the skull to reduce pressure on the brain and relieve certain symptoms in some Chiari type-1 patients.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• cranium
• scalp