skin  (skĭn) 
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n. The membranous tissue forming the external covering or integument of an animal and consisting in vertebrates of the epidermis and dermis. An animal pelt, especially the comparatively pliable pelt of a small or young animal: a tent made of goat skins. A usually thin, closely adhering outer layer: the skin of a peach; a sausage skin; the skin of an aircraft. A container for liquids that is made of animal skin. Music A drumhead. Informal One's life or physical survival: They lied to save their skins.
v.
skinned, skin·ning, skins
v.
tr.
To remove skin from: skinned and gutted the rabbit. To bruise, cut, or injure the skin or surface of: She skinned her knee. To remove (an outer covering); peel off: skin off the thin bark. To cover with or as if with skin: skin the framework of a canoe. Slang To fleece; swindle.
v.
intr.
To become covered with or as if with skin: In January the pond skins over with ice. To pass with little room to spare: We barely skinned by.
adj.
Slang
Of, relating to, or depicting pornography: skin magazines.
[Middle English, from Old Norse skinn; see sek- in Indo-European roots.]
skin'less adj. |
