/ skɪn; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
ON BODY
1.
[ U , C ] the layer of tissue that covers the body :
to have dark / fair / olive, etc. skin
The snake sheds its skin once a year.
cosmetics for sensitive skins
skin cancer
—see also foreskin , redskin
-SKINNED
2.
(in adjectives) having the type of skin mentioned :
dark-skinned
fair-skinned
—see also thick-skinned , thin-skinned
OF DEAD ANIMAL
3.
[ C , U ] (often in compounds) the skin of a dead animal with or without its fur, used for making leather, etc. :
The skins are removed and laid out to dry.
a tiger skin rug
OF FRUIT / VEGETABLES
4.
[ C , U ] the outer layer of some fruit and vegetables :
Remove the skins by soaking the tomatoes in hot water.
—picture at banana
—see also banana skin
—compare peel , rind , zest
OF SAUSAGE
5.
[ C , U ] the thin outer layer of a sausage :
Prick the skins before grilling.
ON LIQUIDS
6.
[ C , U ] the thin layer that forms on the surface of some liquids, especially when they become cold :
A skin had formed on the top of the milk.
OUTSIDE LAYER
7.
[ C ] a layer that covers the outside of sth :
the outer skin of the earth
the metal skin of the aircraft
•
IDIOMS
- by the skin of your teeth
- get under sb's skin
- have got sb under your skin
- it's no skin off my, your, his, etc. nose
- make your skin crawl
- (nothing but / all / only) skin and bone
—more at jump verb , save verb , thick adjective , thin adjective
■ verb
( -nn- ) [ vn ]
ANIMAL / FRUIT / VEGETABLE
1.
to take the skin off an animal, a fruit or a vegetable :
You'll need four ripe tomatoes, skinned and chopped.
PART OF BODY
2.
to rub the skin off part of your body by accident :
He skinned his knees climbing down the tree.
•
IDIOMS
see eye noun , way noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- skin up
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Old English scinn , from Old Norse skinn ; related to Dutch schinden flay, peel and German schinden .