# peeling

/ˈpiɫɪŋ/ (US) · /pˈiːlɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/peeling
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a piece of skin that has been removed from a fruit or vegetable. You usually throw these away after preparing food.

For teachers: the outer skin or rind of a fruit or vegetable that has been removed by cutting or stripping. Often used in the plural form when referring to kitchen waste.

## Examples

- She threw the potato peelings into the compost bin.
- The recipe calls for finely chopped apple peelings to add extra fiber and texture to the muffins.
- While most people discard citrus peelings, they contain concentrated oils that are highly valued in the production of perfumes and industrial cleaning agents.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the plural form ('peelings') to refer to the collection of scraps from food preparation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.