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skin

[ skin ]

/ skɪn /

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See synonyms for: skin / skinned / skinning / skins on Thesaurus.com

noun

the external covering or integument of an animal body, especially when soft and flexible.

such an integument stripped from the body of an animal, especially a small animal; pelt: a beaver skin.

the tanned or treated pelt or hide of an animal, especially when used in apparel and accessories; leather (usually used in combination): pigskin;calfskin.

a container made of animal skin, used for holding liquids, especially wine.

any integumentary covering, casing, outer coating, or surface layer, as an investing membrane, the rind or peel of fruit, or a film on liquid: a skin of thin ice;the aluminum skin of an airplane.

Computers.

a graphical user interface that changes the appearance of a program, app, or website without changing its underlying functioning: It’s still the same old program, but the new skin lets you move all the tools around, so the navigation is better for most people.
an audio or art file in a video game that changes the appearance or sound of an item or a character without changing its underlying functioning, strength, job class, or other specifications: The game is free to play, but I’ve spent a lot on skins so my character can look this badass.

Jewelry.

the outermost layer of a pearl.
the outermost layer of a diamond as found: often different in color and refraction from the inner part of the stone.

Metallurgy. an outer layer of a metal piece having characteristics differing from those of the interior.

Nautical.

the shell or ceiling of a hull.
the outer, exposed part of a furled sail.

Rocketry. the outer surface of a missile or rocket.

Slang. a condom.

skins, Slang. drums.

Slang. a swindler; cheat.

Slang. a skinflint.

Slang. a horse.

Slang. a dollar bill.

verb (used with object), skinned, skin·ning.

to strip or deprive of skin; flay; peel; husk.

to remove or strip off (any covering, outer coating, surface layer, etc.).

to scrape or rub a small piece of skin from (one's hand, leg, etc.), as in falling or sliding against something: She skinned her knee.

to urge on, drive, or whip (a draft animal, as a mule or ox).

to climb or jump: He skinned the rope to the top of the wall.

to cover with or as if with skin.

Slang. to strip of money or belongings; fleece, as in gambling.

Cards. to slide cards one at a time off the top of (the pack) in dealing.

Slang. to defeat completely: skinned at the polls.

Slang. to castigate; reprimand: skinned for his disobedience.

verb (used without object), skinned, skin·ning.

Slang. to slip off or depart hurriedly (often followed by out).

adjective

Slang. showing or featuring nude persons, often in a sexually explicit way: a skin magazine.
presenting films, stage shows, exhibitions, etc., that feature nude persons, especially in a sexually explicit way: a Times Square skin house.

OTHER WORDS FOR skin

2 fur.

5 hull, shell, husk, crust.

See synonyms for skin on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about skin

by the skin of one's teeth, Informal. by an extremely narrow margin; just barely; scarcely: We made the last train by the skin of our teeth.

get under one's skin, Slang.

to irritate; bother: His laugh really gets under my skin.
to affect deeply; impress; penetrate: That sort of music always gets under my skin.

have a thick skin, to be insensitive to criticism or rebuffs: The complaint desk is a job for someone who has a thick skin.

have a thin skin, to be extremely sensitive to criticism or rebuffs; be easily offended: Be careful what you say to me, I have a thin skin.

in / with a whole skin, without harm; unscathed; safely: She escaped from the burning building with a whole skin.

no skin off one's back / nose / teeth, Slang. of no interest or concern or involving no risk to one.

save one's skin, Informal. to avoid harm, especially to escape death: They betrayed their country to save their skins.

skin alive, Informal.

to reprimand; scold.
to subdue completely, especially in a cruel or ruthless manner: The home team was skinned alive this afternoon.

under the skin, in essence; fundamentally; despite appearances or differences: sisters under the skin.

Origin of skin

First recorded in 1050–1100; Middle English noun skin, skin(n)e, Old English scinn, from Old Norse skinn “skin, fur”; cognate with dialectal German Schinde “rind, skin of fruit”; the verb was derived from the noun

synonym study for skin

2. Skin, hide, pelt are names for the outer covering of animals, including humans. Skin is the general word: an abrasion of the skin; the skin of a muskrat. Hide applies to the skin of large animals, as cattle, horses, or elephants: a buffalo hide. Pelt applies to the untanned skin of smaller animals: a mink pelt.

OTHER WORDS FROM skin

skin·like, adjectiveun·der·skin, nounun·skinned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use skin in a sentence

As a man who helped people become fugitives to save their skins, his focus on immigration is rooted in a personal life experience.
How Pope Francis Became the World’s BFF|Jason Berry|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“It is not about Crimea, the West wants our skins hanging on the wall,” he said.
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug|Anna Nemtsova|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their captors wore palm leaves, leopard skins, and magical relics to make themselves immune to bullets.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These goods were probably exchanged with Gedi inhabitants for animal skins and ivory.
Kenya Has Its Own Machu Picchu—the Lost Town of Gedi|Nina Strochlic|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

At the same time, a new range of flavors was introduced in the home market, like loaded potato skins.
The Latest in High-Tech Chips||September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We had new potatoes for dinner, boiled with their skins on, and Liszt threw one at me, and I caught it.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
The body was resting upon a plank supported by four stakes and covered with skins.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
They also took advantage of the necessity of others, in miserly traffic in Beaver skins with the Savages.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
The indigent Jakut exchanges his most valuable furs and skins for a few ounces of the "Circassian weed."
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
This is better than frightening them out of their skins by jumping out from behind a door and saying "Boo."
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 158, April 28, 1920|Various

British Dictionary definitions for skin

skin

/ (skɪn) /

noun

the tissue forming the outer covering of the vertebrate body: it consists of two layers (the dermis and epidermis), the outermost of which may be covered with hair, scales, feathers, etc. It is mainly protective and sensory in function
(as modifier)a skin disease See also dermis, epidermis Related adjectives: cutaneous, dermatoid

a person's complexiona fair skin

any similar covering in a plant or lower animal

any coating or film, such as one that forms on the surface of a liquid

unsplit leather made from the outer covering of various mammals, reptiles, etcCompare hide 2 (def. 1)

the outer covering of a fur-bearing animal, dressed and finished with the hair on

a container made from animal skin

the outer covering surface of a vessel, rocket, etc

a person's skin regarded as his lifeto save one's skin

(often plural) informal (in jazz or pop use) a drum

informal short for skinhead

slang a cigarette paper used for rolling a cannabis cigarette

Irish slang a person; sorthe's a good old skin

by the skin of one's teeth by a narrow margin; only just

get under one's skin informal to irritate one

jump out of one's skin to be very startled

no skin off one's nose informal not a matter that affects one adversely

skin and bone extremely thin

thick skin an insensitive nature

thin skin a sensitive nature

verb skins, skinning or skinned

(tr) to remove the outer covering from (fruit, etc)

(tr) to scrape a small piece of skin from (a part of oneself) in falling, etche skinned his knee

(often foll by over) to cover (something) with skin or a skinlike substance or (of something) to become covered in this way

(tr) slang to strip of money; swindle

adjective

relating to or for the skinskin cream

slang, mainly US involving or depicting nudityskin magazines

Derived forms of skin

skinless, adjectiveskinlike, adjective

Word Origin for skin

Old English scinn, from Old Norse skinn

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

Scientific definitions for skin

skin

[ skĭn ]

The outer covering of a vertebrate animal, consisting of two layers of cells, a thick inner layer (the dermis) and a thin outer layer (the epidermis). Structures such as hair, scales, or feathers are contained in the skin, as are fat cells, sweat glands, and sensory receptors. Skin provides a protective barrier against disease-causing microorganisms and against the sun's ultraviolet rays. In warm-blooded animals, it aids in temperature regulation, as by insulating against the cold.

Cultural definitions for skin

skin

The external tissue that covers the body. As the body's largest organ (it makes up about one twenty-fifth of an adult's weight), the skin serves as a waterproof covering that helps keep out pathogens and protects against temperature extremes and sunlight. The skin also contains special nerve endings that respond to touch, pressure, heat, and cold. The skin has an outer layer, or epidermis, and a layer immediately below, called the dermis.

Other Idioms and Phrases with skin

skin

In addition to the idioms beginning with skin

skin alive
skin and bones
skin deep
skin off one's nose
skin of one's teeth

also see:

beauty is only skin deep
by the skin of one's teeth
get under someone's skin
jump out of one's skin
make one's flesh creep (skin crawl)
more than one way to skin a cat
no skin off one's nose
save one's bacon (skin)
soaked to the skin
thick skin

skin

OTHER WORDS FOR skin

Idioms about skin

Origin of skin

synonym study for skin

OTHER WORDS FROM skin

Words related to skin

How to use skin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for skin

Derived forms of skin

Word Origin for skin

Scientific definitions for skin

Cultural definitions for skin

Other Idioms and Phrases with skin