skin: Meaning and Definition of

skin

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.
1. the outermost layer of a pearl.
2. the outermost layer of a diamond as found: often different in color and refraction from the inner part of the stone.
1. the shell or ceiling of a hull.
2. the outer, exposed part of a furled sail.
7. 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. condom.
10. drums.
11. a swindler; cheat.
12. a skinflint.
13. a horse.
14. a dollar bill.
15. the outer surface of a missile or rocket.
16. by an extremely narrow margin; just barely; scarcely: We made the last train by the skin of our teeth.
17. His laugh really gets under my skin.
1. to irritate; bother:His laugh really gets under my skin.
2. to affect deeply; impress; penetrate:That sort of music always gets under my skin.
18. to be insensitive to criticism or rebuffs: The complaint desk is a job for someone who has a thick skin.
19. to be extremely sensitive to criticism or rebuffs; be easily offended: Be careful what you say to me, I have a thin skin.
20. without harm; unscathed; safely: She escaped from the burning building with a whole skin.
21. of no interest or concern or involving no risk to one.
22. to avoid harm, esp. to escape death: They betrayed their country to save their skins.
23. in essence; fundamentally; despite appearances or differences: sisters under the skin.

1. to strip or deprive of skin; flay; peel; husk.
2. to remove or strip off (any covering, outer coating, surface layer, etc.).
3. 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.
4. to urge on, drive, or whip (a draft animal, as a mule or ox).
5. to climb or jump: He skinned the rope to the top of the wall.
6. to cover with or as if with skin.
7. to strip of money or belongings; fleece, as in gambling.
8. to slide cards one at a time off the top of (the pack) in dealing.
9. to defeat completely: skinned at the polls.
10. to castigate; reprimand: skinned for his disobedience.

1. to slip off or depart hurriedly (often followed by out).
2. The home team was skinned alive this afternoon.
1. to reprimand; scold.
2. to subdue completely, esp. in a cruel or ruthless manner:The home team was skinned alive this afternoon.

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