Etymology : Middle English, from Old Norse skinn; akin to Old English scinn skin, Middle High German schint fruit peel
Pronunciation : skin
Function : noun
Date : 13th century
1. dermis, outer layer of tissue which forms a covering on the body; rind of fruit or vegetables; external covering; membrane; leather sac, canteen made from animal hide. remove skin; peel, remove a rind; abrade, scratch, scrape; be scratched, be scraped; swindle, cheat, bilk of money or property (Slang). dragon`s skin.
2. The external membranous integument of an animal.
3. The hide of an animal, separated from the body, whether green, dry, or tanned; especially, that of a small animal, as a calf, sheep, or goat.
4. A vessel made of skin, used for holding liquids.
5. See Bottle, 1.
6. The bark or husk of a plant or fruit; the exterior coat of fruits and plants.
7. That part of a sail, when furled, which remains on the outside and covers the whole.
8. The covering, as of planking or iron plates, outside the framing, forming the sides and bottom of a vessel; the shell; also, a lining inside the framing.
9. To strip off the skin or hide of; to flay; to peel; as, to skin an animal.
10. To cover with skin, or as with skin; hence, to cover superficially.
11. To strip of money or property; to cheat.
12. To become covered with skin; as, a wound skins over.
13. To produce, in recitation, examination, etc., the work of another for one's own, or to use in such exercise cribs, memeoranda, etc., which are prohibited. an outer surface ; "the skin of an airplane" a bag serving as a container for liquids; it is made from the skin of an animal a natural protective covering of the body; site of the sense of touch; "your skin is the largest organ of your body" a person's skin regarded as their life; "he tried to save his skin" the tissue forming the hard outer layer strip the skin off; "pare apples" bruise, cut, or injure the skin or the surface of; "The boy skinned his knee when he fell".
14. 1. Your skin is the natural covering of your body. His skin is clear and smooth There are three major types of skin cancer The only difference between us is the colour of our skins.
15. An animal skin is skin which has been removed from a dead animal. Skins are used to make things such as coats and rugs. That was real crocodile skin.
16. The skin of a fruit or vegetable is its outer layer or covering. The outer skin of the orange is called the `zest'. banana skins.
17. If a skin forms on the surface of a liquid, a thin, fairly solid layer forms on it. Stir the custard occasionally to prevent a skin forming.
18. If you skin a dead animal, you remove its skin. with the expertise of a chef skinning a rabbit. see also:
-skinned, banana skin.
19. If you do something by the skin of your teeth, you just manage to do it. He won, but only by the skin of his teeth.
20. If you say that someone has a thick skin, you mean that they are able to listen to criticism about themselves without becoming offended. You need a thick skin to be a headmaster.
21. to make your skin crawl: see:
crawl. Surface covering of the body that protects it and receives external sensory stimuli, consisting of an epidermis over a thicker dermis. The epidermis contains cells involved in immune defenses, sensory receptors, pigment cells, and keratin-producing cells. The last harden and migrate to the surface to form a dead, relatively dry outer layer of horny tissue that constantly sloughs away. The dermis contains sensory nerves and blood vessels within connective tissue. Collagen and elastin fibres give skin its tough, elastic quality. Cells scattered through it produce its components and take part in immune and other skin responses. A fat layer under the dermis provides nutritional storage, cushioning, and insulation. Skin disorders range from dermatitis and acne to skin cancer. Changes in skin colour (e.g., jaundice) or texture may be clues to systemic disorders. See also dermatology; hair; integument; nail; perspiration; sebaceous gland; sweat gland.