peel

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. when a surface like paint or skin starts to come off in small pieces.

v. to become detached or to shed an outer layer in strips or flakes. Intransitive — often used of paint, wallpaper, or sunburnt skin.

“The old blue paint was starting to peel off the garden fence.”

“After spending all day at the beach without sunscreen, his shoulders began to peel painfully by the middle of the week.”

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking

n. the outer skin of a fruit or vegetable.

n. the rind or outer skin of a fruit or vegetable, considered collectively. Usually uncountable when referring to the material.

Español:cáscara

“Don't throw the orange peel in the bin; we can use it for compost.”

“The recipe calls for finely grated lemon peel to be folded into the batter just before baking.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Cooking Technical

n. a long-handled shovel used to slide bread or pizza into a hot oven.

n. a shovel-like tool, typically made of wood or metal, used by bakers to slide loaves or pizzas into and out of an oven.

“The baker used a wooden peel to move the sourdough loaves into the back of the oven.”

“A well-floured pizza peel is essential for ensuring the dough slides effortlessly onto the preheated stone without tearing.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · British English

n. a small, strong stone tower built long ago for protection.

n. a small fortified tower or keep, typical of the English-Scottish border regions in the late Middle Ages.

“The ruins of an ancient peel tower stood on the hill overlooking the valley.”

“Historians noted that the peel was strategically positioned to provide a clear line of sight for warning signals during border raids.”