[skin] 
noun, verb, skinned, skin⋅ning, adjective | 1. | the external covering or integument of an animal body, esp. when soft and flexible. |
| 2. | such an integument stripped from the body of an animal, esp. a small animal; pelt: a beaver skin. |
| 3. | the tanned or treated pelt or hide of an animal, esp. when used in apparel and accessories; leather (usually used in combination): pigskin; calfskin. |
| 4. | 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. |
| 5. | Jewelry.
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| 6. | Nautical.
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| 7. | Metallurgy. an outer layer of a metal piece having characteristics differing from those of the interior. |
| 8. | a container made of animal skin, used for holding liquids, esp. wine. |
| 9. | Slang. condom. |
| 10. | skins, Slang. drums. |
| 11. | Slang. a swindler; cheat. |
| 12. | Slang. a skinflint. |
| 13. | Slang. a horse. |
| 14. | Slang. a dollar bill. |
| 15. | Rocketry. the outer surface of a missile or rocket. |
| 16. | to strip or deprive of skin; flay; peel; husk. |
| 17. | to remove or strip off (any covering, outer coating, surface layer, etc.). |
| 18. | 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. |
| 19. | to urge on, drive, or whip (a draft animal, as a mule or ox). |
| 20. | to climb or jump: He skinned the rope to the top of the wall. |
| 21. | to cover with or as if with skin. |
| 22. | Slang. to strip of money or belongings; fleece, as in gambling. |
| 23. | Cards. to slide cards one at a time off the top of (the pack) in dealing. |
| 24. | Slang. to defeat completely: skinned at the polls. |
| 25. | Slang. to castigate; reprimand: skinned for his disobedience. |
| 26. | Slang. to slip off or depart hurriedly (often followed by out). |
| 27. |
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| 28. | 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. |
| 29. | get under one's skin, Slang.
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| 30. | have a thick skin, to be insensitive to criticism or rebuffs: The complaint desk is a job for someone who has a thick skin. |
| 31. | 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. |
| 32. | in or with a whole skin, without harm; unscathed; safely: She escaped from the burning building with a whole skin. |
| 33. | no skin off one's back, nose, or teeth, Slang. of no interest or concern or involving no risk to one. |
| 34. | save one's skin, Informal. to avoid harm, esp. to escape death: They betrayed their country to save their skins. |
| 35. | skin alive, Informal.
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| 36. | under the skin, in essence; fundamentally; despite appearances or differences: sisters under the skin. |
skin (skĭn)
n.
The membranous tissue forming an external protective covering or integument of an animal and consisting of the epidermis and dermis. v. skinned, skin·ning, skins
To bruise, cut, or injure the skin of.
| skin (skĭn) Pronunciation Key
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. |