skin Definition

skin
noun

1. The tough flexible waterproof covering of the human or animal body.

Thesaurus: epidermis, derma, cuticle, covering, pelt, hide.
2. An animal hide, with or without the fur or hair attached.

Thesaurus: epidermis, derma, cuticle, coat, covering, pelt, hide.
3. The outer covering of certain fruits and vegetables.

Thesaurus: peel, husk, rind, covering.
4. Any outer covering or integument.

Example: sausage skin
5. Complexion.

Example: greasy skin
6. A membrane, especially covering internal organs in animals.
7. A semi-solid coating or film on the surface of a liquid.
8. A container for liquids made from an animal hide.
9. The outer covering of a craft, eg aircraft.
10. jazz., colloq
Drums.
Form: skins (usually)
11. slang
A skinhead.
12. slang
A cigarette paper for making a joint (noun 5).

verb skinned, skinning

1. To remove or strip the skin from something.

Example: skin 2 lb tomatoes
Thesaurus: peel, pare, scalp, flay, strip, husk, shuck (US), fleece, excoriate.
2. To injure by scraping the skin.

Example: He skinned his elbow when he fell
3. slang
To cheat or swindle.
intr
4. Said of a wound, etc: to become covered with skin.

Form: skin over (often)

Idiom: by the skin of one's teeth

Very narrowly; only just.
Thesaurus: barely, narrowly, scarcely, just.

Idiom: get under someone's skin

To greatly annoy and irritate them.
Thesaurus: anger, upset, irritate, annoy, bother, irk, disturb, bug (slang).

To become their consuming passion or obsession.

Idiom: no skin off one's nose

colloq
Not a cause of even slight concern or nuisance to one.
Example: It's no skin off my nose if he decides to resign

Idiom: save one's or someone's skin (save one's or someone's neck)

See under save.

Idiom: skin someone alive

To severely reprimand them.
Example: I'll be skinned alive if I don't get back in time

Etymology: 12c: from Norse skinn.

Phrasal Verb: skin up

To prepare and roll a cigarette that contains an illegal substance, especially cannabis or cocaine.