bare-bones

bare-bones (comparative more bare-bones, superlative most bare-bones)

1. Minimalist; lacking that which is not essential.

   Meals on early space flights were bare-bones affairs; able to supply nutrition, but severely lacking in palatability.

   • 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Angara: Technology Codex entry:

     Considering their civilization endured both the immense disaster of the Scourge and the brutal kett invasion, angara possess remarkably advanced technology. Their starships, while generally small and bare-bones functional, are more than capable of keeping pace with Andromeda Initiative vessels.

2. (computing) Describes a computer sold preassembled, but without certain essential components, often a processor, memory, and hard drive.

   Emil bought a bare-bones rig and a new CPU at the computer show, then popped in his old hard drive.

• (only the essentials): no-frills, skeleton
• See also Thesaurus:bare-bones

• barebone