Meaning

(transitive) To remove the skin or outer covering of..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To remove the skin or outer covering of.
2. (transitive) To remove something from the outer or top layer of.
3. (intransitive) To become detached, come away, especially in flakes or strips; to shed skin in such a way.
4. (intransitive) To remove one's clothing.
5. (intransitive) To move, separate (off or away).
6. (usually uncountable) The skin or outer layer of a fruit, vegetable, etc.
7. (countable, rugby) The action of peeling away from a formation.
8. (countable) A cosmetic preparation designed to remove dead skin or to exfoliate.

Example Sentences

I sat by my sister's bed, peeling oranges for her.

The skillful shepherd peeled me certain wands.

I peeled (the skin from) a banana and ate it hungrily.

We peeled the old wallpaper off in strips where it was hanging loose.

I had been out in the sun too long, and my nose was starting to peel.

The children peeled by the side of the lake and jumped in.

The scrum-half peeled off and made for the touchlines.

Near-synonym: pizza paddle

Word Forms

• peels
• peeling
• peeled

Synonyms for peel

Related Words

When Should You Use Peel?

Use peel when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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