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flesh

n. · v.
US //ˈfɫɛʃ// UK //flˈɛʃ// flesh
  1. 1 body tissue (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the soft parts of the body between the skin and the bones, mostly muscle and fat.

    the soft substance of a human or animal body, consisting primarily of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue.

    Example

    The arrow had pierced the flesh of his shoulder but missed the bone.

    Example

    The surgeon carefully retracted the layers of flesh to expose the underlying vascular structure during the emergency procedure.
  2. 2 fruit/vegetables (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

    the soft part of a fruit or vegetable that you can eat.

    the pulpy, edible part of a fruit or vegetable, distinct from the skin, seeds, or core.

    Example

    Cut the melon in half and scoop out the sweet orange flesh.

    Example

    The recipe requires you to roast the eggplant until the flesh is tender enough to be mashed into a smooth paste.
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  1. 3 the physical body (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary Formal Religion

    the human body and its physical desires, often compared to the mind or soul.

    the physical or mortal aspect of humanity, frequently contrasted with the spiritual or intellectual components.

    Example

    The monk believed that the spirit was strong but the flesh was weak.

    Example

    In many theological traditions, the flesh represents the site of worldly temptation and the transient nature of mortal existence.
  2. 4 skin (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    the surface of the human body; your skin.

    the surface or skin of a human being, often used when describing sensation or appearance.

    Example

    She felt the cold wind against her bare flesh.

    Example

    The silk fabric felt incredibly smooth against his flesh, a stark contrast to the rough wool he usually wore.
  3. 5 to remove tissue (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Technical

    to take the meat or fat off a skin or hide.

    to strip the flesh or fat from a hide during the tanning or leather-making process.

    Example

    The hunter used a sharp knife to flesh the deer hide before drying it.

    Example

    Properly fleshing the pelt is a critical step in taxidermy to ensure the skin does not rot during the curing process.
Origin

From Middle English flesh, flesch, flæsch, from Old English flǣsċ, from Proto-West Germanic flaiski, from Proto-Germanic flaiski, from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₁ḱ- (“to tear, peel off”). Cognates Cognate with Yola vleash, vlesh (“flesh”), North Frisian flaasch, flaosk, Fleesk, fleäsk, floask, flääsk, flååsch (“flesh, meat”), Saterland Frisian Flaask (“flesh, meat”), West Frisian fleis (“flesh, meat”), Cimbrian blòas, vlaisch, vlòas (“flesh, meat”), Dutch vlees, vleesch (“flesh, meat”), German Fleisch (“flesh, meat”), German Low German and Luxembourgish Fleesch (“flesh, meat”), Vilamovian fłaś (“meat; muscle”), Yiddish פֿלייש (fleysh, “flesh, meat”), Danish flæsk (“pork; bacon”), Faroese, Icelandic, and Norwegian Nynorsk flesk (“pork; bacon”), Swedish fläsk (“pork”).

Idioms9 entries

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