Definition of skin noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

skin

noun

skɪn

skɪn

on body

1 [uncountable, countable] the layer of tissue that covers the bodyto have dark/fair/olive, etc. skinThe snake sheds its skin once a year.cosmetics for sensitive skinsskin cancer see also foreskin, redskin

-skinned

2 (in adjectives) having the type of skin mentioneddark-skinnedfair-skinned see also thick-skinned, thin-skinned

of dead animal

3 [countable, uncountable] (often in compounds) the skin of a dead animal with or without its fur, used for making leather, etcThe skins are removed and laid out to dry.a tiger skin rug

of fruit/vegetables

4 [countable, uncountable] the outer layer of some fruits and vegetablesRemove the skins by soaking the tomatoes in hot water. compare peel, rind, zest

of sausage

5 [countable, uncountable] the thin outer layer of a sausagePrick the skins before grilling.

on liquids

6 [countable, uncountable] the thin layer that forms on the surface of some liquids, especially when they become coldA skin had formed on the top of the milk.

outside layer

7 [countable] a layer that covers the outside of somethingthe outer skin of the earththe metal skin of the aircraft8 [countable] a special cover for any small electronic device that you can carry with you so that you can listen to musicYou can create your own custom skin for your iPod.The skin has a clear protective layer.

in a computer program

9 [countable] (computing) the interface of a computer program (= the way a computer program presents information on screen), that the user can change to suit their particular preferences

Idioms

by the skin of your teeth

(informal) if you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just manage to do itHe escaped defeat by the skin of his teeth.

get under somebody's skin

(informal) to annoy somebodyDon't let him get under your skin.

have got somebody under your skin

(informal) to be extremely attracted to somebody

it's no skin off my, your, his, etc. nose

(informal) used to say that somebody is not upset or annoyed about something because it does not affect them in a bad way

make your skin crawl

to make you feel afraid or full of disgust

Just the sight of him makes my skin crawl.

(nothing but/all/only) skin and bone

(informal) extremely thin in a way that is not attractive or healthy

more at jump out of your skin at jump verb, save your (own) skin/hide/neck at save verb, a thick skin at thick adjective, a thin skin at thin adjective

Usage note: Physical appearanceA person may be described as having:Eyes(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyesdeep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyessmall/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyespiercing/penetrating/steely eyesbloodshot/watery/puffy eyesbushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrowslong/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashesFacea flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nosea straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nosefull/thick/thin/pouty lipsdry/chapped/cracked lipsflushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheekssoft/chubby/sunken cheekswhite/perfect/crooked/protruding teetha large/high/broad/wide/sloping foreheada strong/weak/pointed/double china long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee bearda long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache/(especially US) mustacheHair and skinpale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skindry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skina dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexiondeep/fine/little/facial wrinklesblonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(British English) ginger/grey hairstraight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hairthick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hairdyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hairlong/short/shoulder-length/cropped haira bald/balding/shaved heada receding hairlinea bald patch/spota side/centre/(US) center (British English) parting/(North American English) partBodya long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neckbroad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shouldersa bare/broad/muscular/small/large chesta flat/swollen/bulging stomacha small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waistbig/wide/narrow/slim hipsa straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy backthin/slender/muscular armsbig/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved handslong/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingerslong/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legsmuscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighsbig/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feeta good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figurebe of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build