n.
Pronunciation: ' flesh
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fl ǣ sc; akin to Old High German fleisk flesh and perhaps to Old English fl ē an to flay ― more at FLAY
Date: before 12th century
1 a : the soft parts of the body of an animal and especially of a vertebrate especially : the parts composed chiefly of skeletal muscle as distinguished from internal organs, bone, and integument b : the condition of having ample fat on the body <cattle in good flesh > c : SKIN
2 a : edible parts of an animal b : flesh of a mammal or fowl eaten as food
3 a : the physical nature of human beings <the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak ― Mount 26:41(AV)> b : HUMAN NATURE
4 a : human beings : HUMANKIND b : living beings c : STOCK , KINDRED
5 : a fleshy plant part used as food also : the fleshy part of a fruit
6 Christian Science : an illusion that matter has sensation
7 : SUBSTANCE <insights buried in the flesh of the narrative ― Jan Carew>
– in the flesh : in person and alive