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skin

Meaning in simple English

US /skɪn/

skin means: The outer covering of a person’s or animal’s body.

noun

BODY COVERINGA1

The outer covering of a person’s or animal’s body.

  • My skin feels dry.
  • The sun burned his skin.
  • Does this cream help sensitive skin?

Common phrases: dry skin, soft skin, skin care, sensitive skin

FRUIT COVERINGA2

The thin outer covering of a fruit or vegetable.

  • You can eat the apple skin.
  • She removed the skins from the tomatoes.
  • The potato skin turned crisp in the oven.

Similar words: peel

Common phrases: apple skin, potato skin, banana skin, remove the skin

ANIMAL HIDEB2

An animal’s outer covering, often with fur, taken off and used to make things.

  • They made a rug from a sheep skin.
  • The hunters dried the animal skins.
  • This coat was made from rabbit skins.

Similar words: hide, pelt

Common phrases: animal skin, bear skin, sheep skin, dried skin

SOFTWARE APPEARANCEB2

A collection of designs that changes how a computer program looks.

  • I downloaded a new skin for the app.
  • This skin makes the buttons easier to see.
  • You can choose from several skins in the settings.

Similar words: theme

Common phrases: custom skin, default skin, install a skin, download a skin

PERSONC2

A person, especially someone described as kind or pleasant.

  • He was a decent old skin.
  • That kind old skin offered us tea.
  • Everyone liked her; she was a good old skin.

Similar words: person, fellow, chap

Common phrases: decent old skin, good old skin, kind old skin

verb

REMOVE HIDEB2

To remove the outer covering or fur from an animal.

  • The butcher showed us how to skin a rabbit.
  • He skinned the deer before cutting the meat.
  • Have you ever skinned a fish?

Similar words: flay

Common phrases: skin a rabbit, skin a deer, skin a fish

SCRAPE BODYB1

To scrape off the outer surface of a part of your body, usually by falling.

  • I skinned my knee.
  • He fell and skinned both elbows.
  • Did you skin your hand on that wall?

How to use it: skin something on something (She skinned her knee on the rough path.)

Similar words: scrape, graze

Common phrases: skin your knee, skin your elbow, skin your knuckles

FORM SURFACEC2

To become covered with a new thin layer on the surface.

  • The wound began to skin over.
  • The paint skinned over before I could use it.
  • Leave the soup uncovered and it may skin over.

How to use it: skin over (The cut will skin over in a few days.)

Common phrases: skin over, skin over quickly

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