flesh

the muscular and fatty substance or tissue in animals that is consumed as food: often regarded specifically as meat while excluding seafood.

fatness; weight: Even after giving birth to her third child, she had very little excess flesh to lose.

the body, especially as distinguished from the spirit or soul: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

the physical or animal nature of humankind as distinguished from its moral or spiritual nature: the needs of the flesh.

Archaic. humankind: It is a higher plane of existence, a domain of mystery, where flesh has never walked.

Archaic. living creatures generally: Are we not the guardians of all flesh, from the tiniest burrowers of earth to the grandest dwellers of ocean?

a person's family or relatives; flesh and blood: With the death of his sister, he is now the last of his lineal flesh.

Botany. the soft, pulpy portion of a fruit, vegetable, etc., as distinguished from the core, skin, shell, etc.: After roasting the squash halves, scrape the flesh from the skin and mash with some cream and butter.

the surface of the human body; skin: A person with tender flesh should not expose it to direct sunlight.

(no longer in common use; now considered offensive) flesh color: The crayons they once called “flesh” have been labeled “peach” since 1962.

Archaic. to incite and accustom (persons) to bloodshed or battle by an initial experience: Under his regime, it was not uncommon for very young boys to be fleshed as indoctrination into a culture of brutality.

Obsolete. to inflame the ardor or passions of by a foretaste: I shall not be easily fleshed—especially by those of questionable intent.

to overlay or cover (a skeleton or skeletal frame) with flesh or with a fleshlike substance: The bones appeared to have been fleshed, as if to simulate some sort of reconstruction.

to give dimension, substance, or reality to (often followed by out): When Evan tells the story, it’s more fleshed, more compelling and believable.The playwright wrote pretty good characters, but the actors really fleshed them out.

to remove adhering flesh from (hides), in leather manufacture: The hides we work with have been thoroughly fleshed before we receive them.

Archaic. to satiate with flesh or fleshly enjoyments; surfeit; glut: Are you gentlemen quite fleshed?

archaic the edible tissue of animals as opposed to that of fish or, sometimes, fowl; meat

the thick usually soft part of a fruit or vegetable, as distinct from the skin, core, stone, etc

the human body and its physical or sensual nature as opposed to the soul or spirit: Related adjective: carnal

mankind in general

animate creatures in general

one's own family; kin (esp in the phrase one's own flesh and blood)

a yellowish-pink to greyish-yellow colour

Christian Science belief on the physical plane which is considered erroneous, esp the belief that matter has sensation

(modifier) tanning of or relating to the inner or under layer of a skin or hide: a flesh split

in the flesh in person; actually present

make one's flesh creep (esp of something ghostly) to frighten and horrify one

press the flesh informal to shake hands, usually with large numbers of people, esp in political campaigning

archaic, or poetic to accustom or incite to bloodshed or battle by initial experience

tanning to remove the flesh layer of (a hide or skin)

to fatten; fill out