skin

skin / skin/ • n. 1. the thin layer of tissue forming the natural outer covering of the body of a person or animal: I use body lotion to keep my skin soft| a flap of skin. ∎  the skin of a dead animal with or without the fur, used as material for clothing or other items: is this real crocodile skin? ∎  a container made from the skin of an animal such as a goat, used for holding liquids. 2. an outer layer or covering, in particular: ∎  the peel or outer layer of certain fruits or vegetables. ∎  the thin outer covering of a sausage. ∎  a thin layer forming on the surface of certain hot liquids, such as milk, as they cool. ∎  the outermost layer of a structure such as a building or aircraft. ∎  Comput. a customized graphic user interface for an application or operating system: music, reviews, and attitude all wrapped up in the skin of a catalog. ∎  (usu. skins) a strip of sealskin or other material attached to the underside of a ski to prevent a skier from slipping backward while climbing. 3. inf. a skinhead. 4. (usu. skins) inf. (esp. in jazz) a drum or drum head. 5. [as adj.] inf. relating to or denoting pornographic literature or films: the skin trade. • v. (skinned, skin·ning ) 1. [tr.] remove the skin from (an animal or a fruit or vegetable). ∎  (in hyperbolic use) punish severely: Dad would skin me alive if I forgot it. ∎  scratch or scrape the skin off (a part of one's body): he scrambled down from the tree with such haste that he skinned his knees. ∎ inf. take money from or swindle (someone). 2. [tr.] archaic cover with skin: the wound was skinned, but the strength of his leg was not restored. ∎  [intr.] (of a wound) form new skin: the hole in his skull skinned over. PHRASES: be skin and bones (of a person or animal) be very thin. by the skin of one's teeth by a very narrow margin; barely: I only got away by the skin of my teeth. get under someone's skin inf. 1. annoy or irritate someone intensely: it was the sheer effrontery of them that got under my skin. 2. fill someone's mind in a compelling and persistent way. 3. reach or display a deep understanding of someone: movies that get under the skin of our national character. give someone (some) skin black slang shake or slap hands together as a gesture or friendship or solidarity. have a thick (or thin) skin be insensitive (or oversensitive) to criticism or insults. it's no skin off my nose (or off my back) inf. (usually spoken with emphasis on “my”) used to indicate that one is not offended or adversely affected by something: it's no skin off my nose if you don't want dessert. keep (or sleep in) a whole skin archaic escape being wounded or injured. make someone's skin (or flesh) crawl (or creep) cause someone to feel fear, horror, or disgust: a person dying in a fire—doesn't it make your skin crawl? save someone's skinsee save¹ . under the skin in reality, as opposed to superficial appearances: he still believes that all women are goddesses under the skin.DERIVATIVES: skin·less adj.