Frame vs. Skeleton — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 21, 2024
Frame is a structural support system, often seen in buildings or artworks, while a skeleton is an internal framework of bones in living organisms.
Difference Between Frame and Skeleton
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A frame serves as the structural support that shapes the outline of various objects and structures, including buildings, bridges, and picture frames. It is designed to bear loads and provide stability. On the other hand, a skeleton is the internal framework composed of bones that supports and protects an organism's body, facilitates movement by acting as levers for muscles, and stores minerals.
Frames are usually made from a variety of materials including wood, steel, or aluminum, depending on the application and the required strength and durability. These materials are chosen for their ability to withstand external forces like wind or earthquakes. Skeletons, however, are made up of bones and cartilages, materials that provide both rigidity and flexibility, essential for movement and protection of vital organs.
In construction, frames are engineered to support not only the weight of the structure itself but also the external loads applied to it, such as the weight of occupants and furniture, and environmental loads like snow or wind. Skeletons support the weight of the body and allow for complex movements through joints, which act as pivots and hinges, enabling walking, running, and other motions.
Frame designs can vary greatly, from the simplicity of a four-sided picture frame to the complex trusses and beams used in building construction. This variability allows for a wide range of architectural styles and functionalities. The skeleton, however, follows a more standardized design across individuals of the same species, with variations primarily in size and minor anatomical differences.
While frames are a critical component of many man-made structures, skeletons are a fundamental aspect of vertebrate biology. The design and materials of frames can be customized for specific needs, whereas the structure and composition of skeletons have evolved over millions of years for optimal support, protection, and mobility of the organism.
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Comparison Chart
Composition
Wood, steel, aluminum
Bones, cartilage
Function
Support, shape structures
Support, protect organs, facilitate movement
Variability
High, adaptable to needs
Low, standardized within species
Load Bearing
External loads, self-weight
Body weight, muscle attachment
Evolution/Design
Man-made, designed for specific purposes
Natural, evolved over millions of years
Compare with Definitions
Frame
A rigid structure that surrounds or encloses something for support.
The wooden frame around the painting highlighted its beauty.
Skeleton
Something stripped down to its essential parts.
The prototype was only a skeleton of the final design.
Frame
A basic structure that underlies or supports a system, concept, or text.
The theoretical frame for the study was clearly defined in the first chapter.
Skeleton
A key underlying scheme or framework.
The event's skeleton schedule was posted online.
Frame
A single, complete shot in filmmaking or animation.
Each frame of the animation was carefully drawn by hand.
Skeleton
A diagram showing the arrangement of bones in an organism.
The biology textbook featured a detailed skeleton of a human body.
Frame
The physical or conceptual boundary of a situation.
The documentary puts the events in a new frame.
Skeleton
The internal framework of bones supporting an organism's body.
The skeleton provides the body with its basic shape and structure.
Frame
The structural system supporting a building or structure.
The steel frame of the skyscraper was engineered to withstand earthquakes.
Skeleton
A very basic form or structure.
The skeleton of the argument was strong, but it lacked details.
Frame
A structure that gives shape or support
The frame of a house.
Skeleton
A skeleton is a structural frame that supports an animal body. There are several different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body, the hydroskeleton, a flexible skeleton supported by fluid pressure, and the cytoskeleton present in the cytoplasm of all cells, including bacteria, and archaea.
Frame
The structure or physique of a human or animal body
A worker's sturdy frame.
Skeleton
The internal structure that protects and supports the soft organs, tissues, and other parts of a vertebrate organism, and is composed of bone and cartilage or, in certain animals, cartilage alone.
Frame
An open structure or rim for encasing, holding, or bordering
A window frame.
The frame of a mirror.
Skeleton
The hard external structure that supports, protects, or contains the body of many invertebrates, such as mollusks, crustaceans, and corals, and certain vertebrates, such as turtles.
Frame
A closed, often rectangular border of drawn or printed lines.
Skeleton
A supporting structure or framework, as of a building.
Frame
The edge, usually rectangular, delimiting the boundaries of an image.
Skeleton
An outline or sketch.
Frame
The bounded area of a visual image, as in photography or film
Filled the frame with a cast of thousands.
Skeleton
Something reduced to its basic or minimal parts.
Frame
One of the set of still images that constitute a film or video.
Skeleton
One that is very thin or emaciated.
Frame
A single image, as in a comic strip or graphic novel, usually bounded by a rectangular line.
Skeleton
A sport in which a person glides down an icy track head-first lying on one's stomach on a compact, simple sled that lacks steering or brakes.
Frame
(Computers) A rectangular area in which text or graphics can be shown, especially one of several rectangular areas on a web page displaying different documents simultaneously.
Skeleton
The sled used in such a sport.
Frame
A general structure or system
The frame of government.
Skeleton
Of, relating to, or resembling a skeleton.
Frame
A general state or condition
The news put me into a better frame of mind.
Skeleton
Reduced to the basic or minimal parts or members
A skeleton crew.
Frame
A frame of reference.
Skeleton
Of or relating to the sport of skeleton.
Frame
The presentation of events in a narrative work, especially a work of literature or film, such that characters in the narrative exist in isolation, uninfluenced by, unaware of, and unable to interact with the narrator or audience.
Skeleton
(anatomy) The system that provides support to an organism, internal and made up of bones and cartilage in vertebrates, external in some other animals.
Frame
The context in which discourse occurs.
Skeleton
An anthropomorphic representation of a skeleton.
She dressed up as a skeleton for Halloween.
Frame
A pattern for a syntactic construction in which one of a group of words can vary.
Skeleton
(figuratively) A very thin person.
She lost so much weight while she was ill that she became a skeleton.
Frame
A round or period of play in some games, such as bowling and billiards.
Skeleton
(figuratively) The central core of something that gives shape to the entire structure.
The skeleton of the organisation is essentially the same as it was ten years ago, but many new faces have come and gone.
Frame
(Baseball) An inning.
Skeleton
(architecture) A frame that provides support to a building or other construction.
Frame
Often frames A pair of eyeglasses, excluding the lenses
Had new lenses fitted into an old pair of frames.
Skeleton
A client-helper procedure that communicates with a stub.
In remote method invocation, the client helper is a ‘stub’ and the service helper is a ‘skeleton’.
Frame
See cold frame.
Skeleton
(geometry) The vertices and edges of a polyhedron, taken collectively.
Frame
(Informal) A frame-up.
Skeleton
(printing) A very thin form of light-faced type.
Frame
(Obsolete) Shape; form.
Skeleton
Reduced to a minimum or bare essentials.
Frame
To enclose in a frame
Frame a painting.
Skeleton
(botany) The network of veins in a leaf.
Frame
To put together the structural parts of; construct the frame of
Frame a house.
Skeleton
A type of tobogganing in which competitors lie face down, and descend head first.
Frame
To conceive or design
Framed an alternate proposal.
Skeleton
(archaic) To reduce to a skeleton; to skin; to skeletonize.
Frame
To establish the context for and terminology regarding (a subject of discussion or debate), especially so as to exclude an unwanted point of view
The question was framed to draw only one answer.
Skeleton
(archaic) To minimize.
Frame
To put into words; formulate
Frame a reply.
Skeleton
The bony and cartilaginous framework which supports the soft parts of a vertebrate animal.
Frame
To form (words) silently with the lips.
Skeleton
A very thin or lean person.
The great skeleton of the world.
Frame
To make up evidence or contrive events so as to incriminate (a person) falsely.
Skeleton
The heads and outline of a literary production, especially of a sermon.
Frame
To prearrange (a contest) so as to ensure a desired fraudulent outcome; fix
Frame a prizefight.
Skeleton
Consisting of, or resembling, a skeleton; consisting merely of the framework or outlines; having only certain leading features of anything; as, a skeleton sermon; a skeleton crystal.
Frame
(Baseball) To catch (a pitch) in such a way as to make it appear to have passed through the strike zone.
Skeleton
Something reduced to its minimal form;
The battalion was a mere skeleton of its former self
The bare skeleton of a novel
Frame
(Archaic) To go; proceed
"Frame upstairs, and make little din" (Emily Brontë).
Skeleton
A scandal that is kept secret;
There must be a skeleton somewhere in that family's closet
Frame
(transitive) To fit, as for a specific end or purpose; make suitable or comfortable; adapt; adjust.
Skeleton
The hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal
Frame
(transitive) To construct by fitting together or uniting various parts; fabricate by union of constituent parts.
Skeleton
The internal supporting structure that gives an artifact its shape;
The building has a steel skeleton
Frame
(transitive) To bring or put into form or order; adjust the parts or elements of; compose; contrive; plan; devise.
Frame
(transitive) Of a constructed object such as a building, to put together the structural elements.
Once we finish framing the house, we'll hang tin on the roof.
Frame
(transitive) Of a picture such as a painting or photograph, to place inside a decorative border.
Frame
(transitive) To position visually within a fixed boundary.
The director frames the fishing scene very well.
Frame
(transitive) To construct in words so as to establish a context for understanding or interpretation.
How would you frame your accomplishments?
The way the opposition has framed the argument makes it hard for us to win.
They have framed this sentencing bill as not caring about victims; we have to frame it as preventing government overreach.
Frame
Conspire to falsely incriminate a presumably innocent person. See frameup.
The gun had obviously been placed in her car in an effort to frame her.
Frame
To wash ore with the aid of a frame.
Frame
To move.
Frame
To proceed; to go.
Frame
(tennis) To hit (the ball) with the frame of the racquet rather than the strings (normally a mishit).
Frame
To strengthen; refresh; support.
Frame
To execute; perform.
All have sworn him an oath that they should frame his will on earth.
Frame
To cause; to bring about; to produce.
Frame
To profit; avail.
Frame
To fit; accord.
Frame
To succeed in doing or trying to do something; manage.
Frame
The structural elements of a building or other constructed object.
Now that the frame is complete, we can start on the walls.
Frame
Anything composed of parts fitted and united together; a fabric; a structure.
Frame
The structure of a person's body; the human body.
His starved flesh hung loosely on his once imposing frame.
Frame
A rigid, generally rectangular mounting for paper, canvas or other flexible material.
The painting was housed in a beautifully carved frame.
Frame
A piece of photographic film containing an image.
A film projector shows many frames in a single second.
Frame
A context for understanding or interpretation.
In this frame, it's easy to ask the question that the investigators missed.
Frame
(snooker) A complete game of snooker, from break-off until all the balls (or as many as necessary to win) have been potted.
Frame
(networking) An independent chunk of data sent over a network.
Frame
(bowling) A set of balls whose results are added together for scoring purposes. Usually two balls, but only one ball in the case of a strike, and three balls in the case of a strike or a spare in the last frame of a game.
Frame
(bowling) The complete set of pins to be knocked down in their starting configuration.
Frame
(horticulture) A movable structure used for the cultivation or the sheltering of plants.
A forcing-frame; a cucumber frame
Frame
(philately) The outer decorated portion of a stamp's image, often repeated on several issues although the inner picture may change.
Frame
(philately) The outer circle of a cancellation mark.
Frame
A division of time on a multimedia timeline, such as 1/30th or 1/60th of a second.
Frame
(Internet) An individually scrollable region of a webpage.
Frame
An inning.
Frame
Any of certain machines built upon or within framework.
A stocking frame; a lace frame; a spinning frame
Frame
(dated) Frame of mind; disposition.
To be always in a happy frame
Frame
(obsolete) Contrivance; the act of devising or scheming.
Frame
A stage or location in a video game.
Frame
A way of dividing nucleotide sequences into a set of consecutive triplets.
Frame
(computing) A form of knowledge representation in artificial intelligence.
Frame
(mathematics) A complete lattice in which meets distribute over arbitrary joins.
Frame
To originate; to plan; to devise; to contrive; to compose; in a bad sense, to invent or fabricate, as something false.
How many excellent reasonings are framed in the mind of a man of wisdom and study in a length of years.
Frame
To fit to something else, or for some specific end; to adjust; to regulate; to shape; to conform.
And frame my face to all occasions.
We may in some measure frame our minds for the reception of happiness.
The human mind is framed to be influenced.
Frame
To cause; to bring about; to produce.
Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds.
Frame
To support.
That on a staff his feeble steps did frame.
Frame
To provide with a frame, as a picture.
Frame
To manufacture false evidence against (an innocent person), so as to make the person appear guilty of a crime. The act of framing a person is often referred to as a frame-up.
Frame
To shape; to arrange, as the organs of speech.
Frame
To proceed; to go.
The bauty of this sinful dameMade many princes thither frame.
Frame
Anything composed of parts fitted and united together; a fabric; a structure; esp., the constructional system, whether of timber or metal, that gives to a building, vessel, etc., its model and strength; the skeleton of a structure.
These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,Almighty! thine this universal frame.
Frame
A kind of open case or structure made for admitting, inclosing, or supporting things, as that which incloses or contains a window, door, picture, etc.; that on which anything is held or stretched
Frame
A term applied, especially in England, to certain machines built upon or within framework; as, a stocking frame; lace frame; spinning frame, etc.
Frame
Form; shape; proportion; scheme; structure; constitution; system; as, a frameof government.
She that hath a heart of that fine frameTo pay this debt of love but to a brother.
Put your discourse into some frame.
Frame
Particular state or disposition, as of the mind; humor; temper; mood; as, to be always in a happy frame. Same as frame of mind
Frame
Contrivance; the act of devising or scheming.
John the bastardWhose spirits toil in frame of villainies.
Frame
In games: (a) In pool, the triangular form used in setting up the balls; also, the balls as set up, or the round of playing required to pocket them all; as, to play six frames in a game of 50 points. (b) In bowling, as in tenpins, one of the several innings forming a game.
Frame
A structure supporting or containing something
Frame
One of a series of still transparent photographs on a strip of film used in making movies
Frame
Alternative names for the body of a human being;
Leonardo studied the human body
He has a strong physique
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
Frame
A period of play in baseball during which each team has a turn at bat
Frame
The hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal
Frame
The internal supporting structure that gives an artifact its shape;
The building has a steel skeleton
Frame
Enclose in or as if in a frame;
Frame a picture
Frame
Enclose in a frame, as of a picture
Frame
Take or catch as if in a snare or trap;
I was set up!
The innocent man was framed by the police
Frame
Formulate in a particular style or language;
I wouldn't put it that way
She cast her request in very polite language
Frame
Draw up the plans or basic details for;
Frame a policy
Frame
Construct by fitting or uniting parts together
Common Curiosities
Are skeletons made up of the same materials in all organisms?
No, skeletons in different organisms can be made of bones, cartilage, or a combination of both, depending on the species.
Can the design of frames vary?
Yes, frame designs can vary greatly, from simple picture frames to complex structural supports in construction.
How does a skeleton support an organism?
A skeleton supports an organism by providing a rigid structure for muscle attachment, facilitating movement, and protecting internal organs.
How are frames adapted for different uses?
Frames are adapted for different uses by varying the materials, design, and construction techniques based on the specific requirements of the structure.
What materials are commonly used to make frames?
Common materials for frames include wood, steel, and aluminum.
What is a key difference in the design process between frames and skeletons?
Frames are designed and engineered by humans for specific applications, while skeletons have evolved naturally over millions of years for biological purposes.
Is the variability of frames greater than that of skeletons?
Yes, the variability of frames is greater than that of skeletons due to the customizable nature of man-made designs versus the standardized anatomical structures in organisms.
Can the structure of a frame influence its functionality?
Yes, the structure of a frame greatly influences its functionality, including its ability to bear loads and withstand environmental conditions.
What is the primary function of a frame?
The primary function of a frame is to provide structural support and shape to objects and structures like buildings or artworks.
What evolutionary purpose does a skeleton serve?
A skeleton has evolved to optimize support, protection, and mobility of an organism.
What is the difference between a frame and a skeleton in terms of load bearing?
Frames are designed to bear external loads and the self-weight of structures, while skeletons bear the body's weight and facilitate movement through muscle attachment.
Can a skeleton be considered a type of frame?
In a broad sense, a skeleton can be considered a type of biological frame, as it provides structural support to an organism.
What role do joints play in a skeleton?
Joints in a skeleton allow for flexibility and movement, acting as pivots and hinges for muscles to act upon.
How does the evolutionary design of skeletons benefit organisms?
The evolutionary design of skeletons benefits organisms by providing an optimized balance of support, protection, and mobility tailored to their ecological niche and lifestyle.
How do materials used in frames compare to those in skeletons?
Materials used in frames, such as wood, steel, and aluminum, are chosen for structural support and durability, whereas skeletons are composed of organic materials like bones and cartilage that offer rigidity and flexibility.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
