peel
1to strip (something) of its skin, rind, bark, etc.: to peel an orange.
to strip (the skin, rind, bark, paint, etc.) from something: to peel paint from a car.
Croquet. to cause (another player's ball) to go through a wicket.
(of skin, bark, paint, etc.) to come off; become separated.
to lose the skin, rind, bark, paint, etc.
Informal. to undress.
Metallurgy. (of a malleable iron casting) to lose, or tend to lose, the outer layer.
the skin or rind of a fruit, vegetable, etc.
Metallurgy. the presence of a brittle outer layer on a malleable iron casting.
peel off,
to remove (the skin, bark, etc.) or be removed: The old skin peeled off.
Aeronautics. to leave a flying formation of aircraft with a banking turn, usually from one end of an echelon.
Informal. to turn off or leave (a road): We peeled off the highway onto a dirt road.
to remove (clothing) in a swift upward or downward motion.
Idioms about peel
keep one's eyes peeled, Informal. to watch closely or carefully; be alert: Keep your eyes peeled for a gas station.
Origin of peel
1synonym study For peel
Other words from peel
- peel·a·ble, adjective
- un·peel·a·ble, adjective
- un·peeled, adjective
Words that may be confused with peel
- peal, peel
Words Nearby peel
Other definitions for peel (2 of 4)
a shovellike implement for putting bread, pies, etc., into the oven or taking them out.
Metallurgy. a long, shovellike iron tool for charging an open-hearth furnace.
Origin of peel
2Other definitions for peel (3 of 4)
or pele
a small fortified tower for residence or for use during an attack, common in the border counties of England and Scotland in the 16th century.
Origin of peel
3Other definitions for Peel (4 of 4)
Sir Robert, 1788–1850, British political leader: founder of the London constabulary; prime minister 1834–35; 1841–46.
a seaport on W Isle of Man: castle; resort.
a river in N Yukon Territory and NW Northwest Territories, Canada, flowing E and N to the Mackenzie River. 425 miles (684 km) long.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use peel in a sentence
I do my best to use organic herbs and spices, and if I’m adding citrus peel, I scrub the citrus before peeling.
Mix your own delicious herbal tea using leftover spices | By Kristy Mucci/Saveur | December 4, 2020 | Popular-ScienceYou can swap in candied orange peel, or any standard candied fruit mix.
Tutti frutti makes these buttery orange cookies look and taste like a party | Hetal Vasavada | December 2, 2020 | Washington PostIt’s patent-pending, and based on the most popular peel I did in my office.
The skin care brand striving to make medical-grade topicals both more luxe and accessible | Rachel King | November 29, 2020 | FortuneAll wood products shrink and swell as moisture in the air shifts, and if there is a lot of shrinking and swelling, paint has to shrink and swell, too, or it cracks and peels.
Why does the paint keep peeling on my bathroom vanity? | Jeanne Huber | November 23, 2020 | Washington PostBack in the late 2000s, he began showing school children how to raise worm farms in boxes, by feeding them organic waste like banana peels.
With backing from Hollywood, French startup Ÿnsect plans to bring edible insects to America | Vivienne Walt | October 12, 2020 | Fortune
I thought it was so sweet of them, and I had to peel it off her.
For me as an actor, too, it was nice to be able to peel another layer off her and realize that this is something that she wants.
Julianna Margulies's Favorite 'The Good Wife' Scenes | Julianna Margulies | August 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSo rich and delicious, so dark and layered with coffee and hazelnuts, toffee, orange peel, cigar box.
Why Maya Angelou Loved Sherry, The Drink of Brilliant Renegades | Jordan Salcito | June 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTTo top with a flamed orange twist, hold a piece of orange peel about the size of a silver dollar, skin side down, over the drink.
The Rise and Fall…and Rise Again of the Old-Fashioned | Allison McNearney | June 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHolding the match a few inches above the drink, quickly squeeze the peel in the direction of the match.
The Rise and Fall…and Rise Again of the Old-Fashioned | Allison McNearney | June 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn the late eighties he returned to his native island, settled at peel, and became a magnate there.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowDown coast, and Whitehaven; the manager of the company was my friend, and would allow the steamer to drop me at peel.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowIn what respect has the subsequent conduct of Sir Robert peel been inconsistent with these declarations?
He planted an ambush in the early morning, and let the hay lie till the peel men had gone out to cut their crop.
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. MurisonAfter some consultation, these noble lords considered it advisable to offer the first place to Sir Robert peel.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. | E. Farr and E. H. Nolan
British Dictionary definitions for peel (1 of 4)
/ (piːl) /
(tr) to remove (the skin, rind, outer covering, etc) of (a fruit, egg, etc)
(intr) (of paint, etc) to be removed from a surface, esp through weathering
(intr) (of a surface) to lose its outer covering of paint, etc esp through weathering
(intr) (of a person or part of the body) to shed skin in flakes or (of skin) to be shed in flakes, esp as a result of sunburn
croquet to put (another player's ball) through a hoop or hoops
keep one's eyes peeled or keep one's eyes skinned to watch vigilantly
the skin or rind of a fruit, etc
Origin of peel
1- See also peel off
British Dictionary definitions for peel (2 of 4)
/ (piːl) /
a long-handled shovel used by bakers for moving bread, in an oven
Origin of peel
2British Dictionary definitions for peel (3 of 4)
/ (piːl) /
(in Britain) a fortified tower of the 16th century on the borders between England and Scotland, built to withstand raids
Origin of peel
3British Dictionary definitions for Peel (4 of 4)
/ (piːl) /
John, real name John Robert Parker Ravenscroft . 1939–2004, British broadcaster; presented his influential Radio 1 music programme (1967–2004) and Radio 4's Home Truths (1998–2004)
Sir Robert. 1788–1850, British statesman; Conservative prime minister (1834–35; 1841–46). As Home Secretary (1828–30) he founded the Metropolitan Police and in his second ministry carried through a series of free-trade budgets culminating in the repeal of the Corn Laws (1846), which split the Tory party
Derived forms of Peel
- Peelite, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with peel
In addition to the idiom beginning with peel
- peel off
also see:
- keep one's eyes open (peeled)
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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