| 释义 |
flesh
I. \ˈflesh\ noun
(-es)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English flǣsc; akin to Old High German fleisk flesh, meat, Old Norse flesk bacon, ham, flīs slice, splinter, and probably to Old Norse flā to flay — more at flay
1.
a. : the soft parts of the body of man or a lower animal (as a vertebrate) usually excluding the integument
b. : the body parts composed chiefly of skeletal muscle with accompanying fat and connective tissues as distinguished from visceral structures and bone — called also meat
c. : sleek well-fatted condition of body : fat
< the steer was in excellent flesh when shown >
< lost flesh during his illness >
d. : the surface or external appearance of the body — used especially with reference to color
< sun-tanned flesh >
2.
a. : food of animal origin comprising edible parts of any animal used as food
< flesh-eating mammals >
b. : flesh of mammals or sometimes of mammals and birds as an article of diet
< abstain from flesh during religious fasts >
— distinguished from fish and often from edible organs (as liver or brains) or from foods of vegetable origin
3.
a. : the physical being of man — distinguished from soul
b. : human nature:
(1) : tender sensitivity
(2) : carnal weakness : tendency to transient or physical pleasure : desire for sensual gratification
< indulgence of the flesh >
4.
a. : human beings : mankind, humanity
b. : living beings : animal life
< inconceivable that all flesh should be swept from the earth >
c. : a stock, kindred, or race constituting a unified whole
< this English flesh >
< men of my own flesh and kin >
5.
a. : a fleshy mesocarp (as of an apple or stone fruit) : the sarcocarp of a fleshy fruit; broadly : the fleshy part of any fruit (as an aggregate or composite fruit)
b. : the part of an edible plant suitable for or actually consumed as food usually excluding integuments and seeds even if these are also consumed
< a new tomato with splendid firm flesh >
— used chiefly of parts (as fruits, fruiting bodies, or roots) that are more or less fleshy in structure
6. : a pale orange yellow to yellowish gray — called also moonlight
7. or flesh side : the inner side of a hide — compare grain 4b(1)
8. Christian Science : an illusion that matter has sensation
•
- after the flesh
- in the flesh
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-es)
transitive verb
1.
a. : to feed (as a hawk or hound) with flesh from the kill to encourage interest in the chase — compare blood vt 3a
b. : blood vt 3b, 3c
c. obsolete : to arouse or habituate (as a person) to some emotion or response (as of lust, cupidity, or hate) especially by experience
2. : to drive or thrust (as a weapon) into flesh
< the dog fleshed his fangs in the deer's leg >
3. archaic : gratify, satiate
< flesh his cupidity >
4.
a. : to clothe or cover with or as if with flesh
< the modeler builds up his figure by fleshing a wire frame with clay >
broadly : to give substance or a feeling of reality to — usually used with out
< they fleshed out the president's plan with statistics and procedural details >
< the duchess was not as well fleshed out as the other characters in the play >
b. : to cause to grow : fatten
< a garden fleshed by rain and sun >
— often used with up
< you'll have to flesh those steers up if you expect them to bring top prices >
5. : to free from flesh; especially : to scrape (a skin) free of fat, membrane, or other adherent tissue
intransitive verb
: to put on weight or substance : become fleshy — often used with up or out
< on a better diet the children soon began to flesh up >
< that steer is fleshing out well > |