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