Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense skins, present participle skinning, past tense, past participle skinned
1. variable noun
Your skin is the natural covering of your body.
His skin is clear and smooth.
There are three major types of skin cancer.
The only difference between us is the colour of our skins.
Synonyms: complexion, colouring, skin tone, cuticle More Synonyms of skin
2. variable noun
An animal skin is skin which has been removed from a dead animal. Skins are used to make things such as coats and rugs.
That was real crocodile skin.
...a leopard skin coat.
Synonyms: hide, fleece, pelt, fell More Synonyms of skin
3. variable noun
The skin of a fruit or vegetable is its outer layer or covering.
The outer skin of the orange is called the 'zest'. [+ of]
...banana skins.
4. singular noun
If a skin forms on the surface of a liquid, a thin, fairly solid layer forms on it.
Stir the custard occasionally to prevent a skin forming.
Synonyms: film, coating, coat, membrane More Synonyms of skin
5. countable noun
In computing, a skin is a set of colours, fonts, and background images,that can be used to change howa computer, phone screen or app looks.
[computing]
The new skins will be available for download soon.
6. verb
If you skin a dead animal, you remove its skin.
...with the expertise of a chef skinning a rabbit. [VERB noun]
7. See also -skinned, banana skin
8.
See to jump out of one's skin
9.
See save one's own skin/save one's skin
10.
See by the skin of your teeth
11.
See a thick skin
12. to make your skin crawl
More Synonyms of skin
skin in British English
(skɪn)
noun
1.
a.
the tissue forming the outer covering of the vertebrate body: it consists of two layers (the dermis and epidermis), the outermost of which may be covered with hair, scales, feathers, etc. It is mainly protective and sensory in function
b.
(as modifier)
a skin disease
See also dermis, epidermis ▶ Related adjectives: cutaneous, dermatoid
2.
a person's complexion
a fair skin
3.
any similar covering in a plant or lower animal
4.
any coating or film, such as one that forms on the surface of a liquid
5.
unsplit leather made from the outer covering of various mammals, reptiles, etc
Compare hide2 (sense 1)
6.
the outer covering of a fur-bearing animal, dressed and finished with the hair on
7.
a container made from animal skin
8.
the outer covering surface of a vessel, rocket, etc
9.
a person's skin regarded as his or her life
to save one's skin
10. (often plural) informal
(in jazz or pop use) a drum
11. informal short for skinhead
12. slang
a cigarette paper used for rolling a cannabis cigarette
13. Irish slang
a person; sort
he's a good old skin
14. computing
a configuration of colours, fonts, background images, etc that can be used to customize the appearance of a particular application
15. by the skin of one's teeth
16. get under one's skin
17. jump out of one's skin
18. no skin off one's nose
19. skin and bone
20. thick skin
21. thin skin
verbWord forms: skins, skinning or skinned
22. (transitive)
to remove the outer covering from (fruit, etc)
23. (transitive)
to scrape a small piece of skin from (a part of oneself) in falling, etc
he skinned his knee
24. (often foll by over)
to cover (something) with skin or a skinlike substance or (of something) to becomecovered in this way
25. (transitive) slang
to strip of money; swindle
adjective
26.
relating to or for the skin
skin cream
27. slang, mainly US
involving or depicting nudity
skin magazines
Derived forms
skinless (ˈskinless)
adjective
skinlike (ˈskinˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English scinn, from Old Norse skinn
skin in American English
(skɪn)
noun
1.
the outer covering or integument of the animal body
2.
such a covering, esp. that of a small animal, when removed from the body and prepared for use; pelt
3.
something like skin in appearance or function; any outer layer, as fruit rind, the shell or plating of a ship, a film or scum, the outermost nacreous layer in a pearl, etc.
4.
a container made of animal skin, used for holding liquids
5. US; [pl.]; Slang
a set of drums, esp. in a jazz band
6. US, Slang
a dollar
verb transitiveWord forms: skinned or ˈskinning
7.
to cover with or as with skin; grow skin on
8.
to remove skin from
9.
to strip or peel off, as or like skin
10.
to injure by scraping or abrading (one's knee, elbow, etc.)
11. Informal
a.
to defraud or cheat; swindle
b. US
to criticize or scold severely
12. US, Informal
to drive or urge on (a mule, ox, etc.)
verb intransitive
13.
to become covered with skin
14. Informal
to climb (up or down)
15.
to move (through), pass (by), succeed, etc. by a very narrow margin
adjective
16. Slang
depicting or involving nudity and, sometimes, explicit sexual activity
skin magazine
Idioms:
be no skin off one's nose
by the skin of one's teeth
get under someone's skin
have a thick skin
save one's skin
skin alive
SYNONYMY NOTE: skin is the general term for the outer covering of the animal body and for the covering,especially if thin and tight, of certain fruits and vegetables [human skin, the skin of a peach]; hide1 is used of the tough skins of certain large animals, as of a horse, cow, elephant,etc.; , pelt2 refers to the skin, esp. the untanned skin, of a fur-bearing animal, as of a mink,fox, sheep, etc.; , rind applies to the thick, tough covering of certain fruits, as of a watermelon, or ofcheeses, bacon, etc.; , peel1 is used of the skin or rind of fruit that has been removed, as by stripping [potato peel, lemon peel]; bark1 applies to the hard covering of trees and woody plants
Word origin
ME skinn < ON, akin to Ger schinden, to flay, peel < IE *(s)ken(d)-, to split off (< base *sek-, to cut: see saw1) > OIr ceinn, a scale, scurf
More idioms containing
skin
there's more than one way to skin a cat
slip on a banana skin
skin someone alive
do something by the skin of your teeth
get under someone's skin
it's no skin off my nose
jump out of your skin
make your skin crawl
save your own skin
skin and bone(s)
a thick skin
a thin skin
Examples of 'skin' in a sentence
skin
They are a piece of bone and a layer of skin.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
These neutrals work on all skin tones.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He might have died of skin cancer five years ago had a melanoma not been removed.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Micro injections of carbon dioxide just beneath the surface of the skin.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This means you need a thick skin to drive one.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Once a month will give your hair and skin an extra glow.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Those products go into anything from skin cream to treatments sprayed by farmers on to their crops.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Perhaps having just miraculously avoided stepping on a banana skin?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Removing toxins via the feet is unlikely because this is the thickest skin in the body.
The Sun (2007)
They have a slightly bleaching effect and the skin lotion also has a really deep cleansing action.
Guyton, Anita The Natural Beauty Book - cruelty-free cosmetics to make at home (1991)
The skins on the fruits have toughened during dry weather.
The Sun (2011)
The skins of the dead horses were said to have been used in multimedia artworks.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The blue colour slightly toned down a red complexion and it improved skin condition over two weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Use your moisturiser as a barrier cream on dry skin to avoid a darker tan.
The Sun (2012)
My sleep is sound and my skin is clear.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And our skins are covered with bacteria.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Which is exactly what some skin diseases cause.
The Sun (2015)
Use a knife and fork to carefully remove the skin from the plaice.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They are useful because the skins are thin and thus cook quickly.
Smith, Drew Food Watch (1994)
This has fast become my favourite skin saviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There are also variations in skin colour.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The elusive tan we crave to make us look healthy is actually the result of the appearance of damaged skin cells.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Make-up colours look different depending on a person 's skin tone.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
skin
British English: skin /skɪn/ NOUN
person Your skin covers your whole body.
Too much sun can damage your skin.
American English: skin
Arabic: جِلْد
Brazilian Portuguese: pele
Chinese: 皮肤
Croatian: koža
Czech: kůže orgán
Danish: hud
Dutch: huid
European Spanish: piel Anatomía
Finnish: iho
French: peau
German: Haut
Greek: επιδερμίδα
Italian: pelle
Japanese: 皮膚
Korean: 피부
Norwegian: hud
Polish: skóra cera
European Portuguese: pele
Romanian: piele
Russian: кожа
Latin American Spanish: piel dermis
Swedish: hud
Thai: ผิวหนัง
Turkish: cilt
Ukrainian: шкіра
Vietnamese: da
British English: skin /skɪn/ NOUN
fruit, vegetable The skin of a fruit or vegetable covers the outside of it.
She slipped on a banana skin.
American English: skin
Arabic: قِشْرَة
Brazilian Portuguese: casca
Chinese: 果皮
Croatian: koža
Czech: slupka
Danish: skræl
Dutch: schil
European Spanish: piel
Finnish: kuori
French: peaufruit
German: Schale
Greek: φλούδα
Italian: buccia
Japanese: 皮
Korean: 껍질
Norwegian: skall
Polish: skórka
European Portuguese: casca
Romanian: coajă
Russian: кожица
Latin American Spanish: piel
Swedish: skal
Thai: เปลือกผักหรือผลไม้
Turkish: kabuk
Ukrainian: шкірка
Vietnamese: vỏ
British English: skin VERB
If you skin a dead animal, you remove its skin.
...with the expertise of a chef skinning a rabbit.
American English: skin
Brazilian Portuguese: tirar a pele de
Chinese: 剥去…的皮
European Spanish: despellejar
French: dépouiller
German: häuten
Italian: scuoiare
Japanese: 皮をはぐ
Korean: 가죽을 벗기다
European Portuguese: tirar a pele de
Latin American Spanish: despellejar
All related terms of 'skin'
skin up
to roll (a cannabis cigarette )
skin care
Skin care involves keeping your skin clean , healthy-looking, and attractive .
skin deep
Something that is only skin deep is not a major or important feature of something, although it may appear to be.
skin food
a cosmetic cream for keeping the skin in good condition
skin game
a swindling trick
skin mag
a magazine containing pornographic images
skin-pop
the subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of a narcotic
skin tag
a small growth loosely attached to the skin, esp around the eyes, neck , armpits , or groin
skin test
any test to determine immunity to a disease or hypersensitivity by introducing a small amount of the test substance beneath the skin or rubbing it into a fresh scratch
thin skin
a sensitive nature
banana skin
The thick yellow or green covering of a banana is called a banana skin .
goose skin
the bumpy condition of the skin induced by cold, fear , etc, caused by contraction of the muscles at the base of the hair follicles with consequent erection of papillae : so called because of the resemblance to the skin of a freshly-plucked fowl
hyson skin
the inferior leaves of a Chinese green tea
skin alive
to scold or punish severely
skin cancer
a cancerous or malignant skin growth
skin color
the colour of a person's skin , ie Black, White, etc
skin colour
the colour of a person's skin , ie Black , White, etc
skin damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
skin diver
someone who takes part in the sport or activity of diving and underwater swimming without wearing a diver's costume
skin diving
the sport or activity of diving and underwater swimming without wearing a diver's costume
skin effect
the tendency of alternating current to concentrate in the surface layer of a conductor , esp at high frequencies , thus increasing its effective resistance
skin flick
a film containing much nudity and explicit sex for sensational purposes
skin graft
a piece of skin removed from one part of the body and surgically grafted at the site of a severe burn or similar injury
skin patch
an adhesive patch stuck to the skin to slowly and steadily release medicine into the bloodstream
skin-popped
the subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of a narcotic
skin-tight
Skin-tight clothes fit very tightly so that they show the shape of your body.
thick skin
an insensitive nature
browser skin
a changeable decorative background for a browser
skin disease
a condition or disease affecting the skin
skin friction
the friction acting on a solid body when it is moving through a fluid
skin grafting
the act of removing a piece of skin from one part of the body and surgically grafting it at the site of a severe burn or similar injury
skin magazine
a magazine containing pornographic images
skin-popping
the subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of a narcotic
skin reaction
an irritation or inflammation of the skin due to an allergy or infection , brought about by natural means or by a skin test
stressed skin
a composite plywood material used esp in the construction of light aircraft
a thick skin
If you say that someone has a thick skin , you mean that they are able to listen to criticism about themselves without becoming offended .
a thin skin
a tendency to be easily upset by criticism
skin complaint
You can refer to an illness as a complaint , especially if it is not very serious .
skin infection
An infection is a disease caused by germs or bacteria.
skin irritation
Irritation in a part of your body is a feeling of slight pain and discomfort there.
combination skin
facial skin that is dry in some areas and greasy in others
goldbeater's skin
animal membrane used to separate sheets of gold that are being hammered into gold leaf
skin and bone
You can say someone is just skin and bone when you do not approve of the fact that they are very thin.
skin and bones
a condition or state of extreme thinness, usually the result of malnutrition ; emaciation
save one's skin
to avoid harm or injury; esp., to escape death
skin and bone(s)
very thin , because of lack of food or serious illness
skin someone alive
to make someone suffer a lot in order to get an advantage for yourself
have a thick skin
to be insensitive (or acutely sensitive ) to blame , criticism , insults , etc.
save your own skin
to try to save yourself from something dangerous or unpleasant , often without caring what happens to anyone else
galvanic skin response
a change in the electrical resistance of the skin occurring in moments of strong emotion ; measurements of this change are used in lie detector tests
Chinese translation of 'skin'
skin
(skɪn)
n
(c/u)[of person]皮肤(膚) (pífū)
[of animal]皮 (pí) (张(張), zhāng)
(= complexion) 肤(膚)色 (fūsè) (种(種), zhǒng)
(c/u)[of fruit, vegetable]外皮 (wàipí)
(s) (on liquid) 薄层(層) (báocéng)
vt
剥(剝)去 ... 的皮 (bōqù ... de pí)
to be soaked or drenched to the skin全身都湿(濕)透了 (quánshēn dōu shītòu le)
1 (noun)
Definition
a person's complexion
His skin is clear and smooth.
Synonyms
complexion
She had short brown hair and a pale complexion.
colouring
skin tone
cuticle
epidermis
dermis
2 (noun)
Definition
the outer covering of a furry animal, removed and prepared for use
That was real crocodile skin.
Synonyms
hide
the process of tanning animal hides
fleece
pelt
mink which had been bred for their pelts
fell
integument
tegument
3 (noun)
Definition
any outer layer or covering
banana skins
Synonyms
peel
grated lemon peel
rind
grated lemon rind
husk
a grey squirrel nibbling on a peanut husk
casing
outside
the outside of the building
Grill until the outsides are browned.
crust
As the water evaporates, a crust of salt is left on the surface of the soil.
4 (noun)
Definition
a thin solid layer on the surface of a liquid
Stir the custard occasionally to prevent a skin forming.
Synonyms
film
The sea is coated with a film of sewage.
coating
We put on the second coating of lacquer.
coat
Vitamin B6 is great for improving the condition of dogs' and horses' coats.
membrane
the mucous membrane
1 (verb)
Definition
to remove the outer covering from (fruit, vegetables, dead animals, etc)
two tomatoes, skinned, peeled and chopped
Synonyms
peel
I sat down and began peeling potatoes.
pare
Pare the rind thinly from the lemon.
hull
Soak them in water with lemon juice for 30 minutes before hulling.
2 (verb)
Definition
to injure (a part of the body) by scraping some of the skin off
He fell down and skinned his knee.
Synonyms
scrape
She stumbled and fell, scraping her palms and knees.
graze
I had grazed my knees a little.
bark
She barked her shin off the edge of the drawer.
flay
His skin was flayed by barbed wire.
excoriate
abrade
The rough rock had abraded her skin.
idioms
See by the skin of one's teeth
See get under your skin
related words
technical namecutis
related adjectivescutaneousdermatoid
related phobiadermatophobia
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abrade
The rough rock had abraded her skin.
Synonyms
scrape,
grind,
skin,
file,
scratch,
erode,
graze,
erase,
scour,
wear off,
rub off,
wear down,
scuff,
wear away,
scrape away,
scrape out
in the sense of bark
Definition
to scrape or rub off (skin), as in an injury
She barked her shin off the edge of the drawer.
Synonyms
scrape,
skin,
strip,
rub,
scratch,
shave,
graze,
scuff,
flay,
abrade
in the sense of coat
Definition
the hair, wool, or fur of an animal
Vitamin B6 is great for improving the condition of dogs' and horses' coats.
Synonyms
fur,
hair,
skin,
hide,
wool,
fleece,
pelt
Synonyms of 'skin'
skin
Explore 'skin' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of coating
Definition
a layer or film spread over a surface
We put on the second coating of lacquer.
Synonyms
layer,
covering,
finish,
skin,
sheet,
coat,
dusting,
blanket,
membrane,
glaze,
film,
varnish,
veneer,
patina,
lamination
in the sense of crust
Definition
any hard outer layer
As the water evaporates, a crust of salt is left on the surface of the soil.
Synonyms
layer,
covering,
coating,
incrustation,
film,
outside,
skin,
surface,
shell,
coat,
caking,
scab,
concretion
in the sense of excoriate
Definition
to strip skin from a person or animal
Synonyms
skin,
strip,
scratch,
peel,
scrape,
gall,
flay,
scarify,
abrade
in the sense of flay
Definition
to strip off the skin of, esp. by whipping
His skin was flayed by barbed wire.
Synonyms
skin,
strip,
peel,
scrape,
excoriate,
remove the skin from
in the sense of graze
Definition
to break the skin of (a part of the body) by scraping
I had grazed my knees a little.
Synonyms
scratch,
skin,
bark,
scrape,
chafe,
abrade
in the sense of hull
Definition
to remove the hulls from (fruit or seeds)
Soak them in water with lemon juice for 30 minutes before hulling.
Synonyms
trim,
peel,
skin,
shell,
husk,
shuck
in the sense of husk
Definition
the outer covering of certain fruits and seeds
a grey squirrel nibbling on a peanut husk
Synonyms
rind,
shell,
hull,
covering,
bark,
chaff,
shuck,
glume
in the sense of membrane
Definition
a thin flexible tissue that covers, lines, or connects plant and animal organs or cells
the mucous membrane
Synonyms
layer,
film,
skin,
tissue,
veil,
diaphragm
in the sense of outside
Definition
the external side or surface of something
the outside of the buildingGrill until the outsides are browned.