Top Definitions
Synonyms
Quizzes
Related Content
Examples
British
Medical
Scientific
Cultural
Idioms And Phrases

skin

[ skin ]

/ skɪn /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: skin / skinned / skinning 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.

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.

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.

Nautical.

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

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

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

Slang. condom.

skins, Slang. drums.

Slang. a swindler; cheat.

Slang. a skinflint.

Slang. a horse.

Slang. a dollar bill.

Rocketry. the outer surface of a missile or rocket.

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.

SYNONYMS FOR skin

2 fur.

4 hull, shell, husk, crust.

See synonyms for skin on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

Question 1 of 8

Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

The Mockingbird State

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for 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 1150–1200; Middle English (noun), from Old Norse skinn; cognate with dialectal German Schinde “skin of fruit”

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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for skin

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