skincross section of human skinA. melanocyteB. muscleC. sebaceous gland D. hair shaftE. epidermisF. dermisG. subcutaneous tissueH. fatI. arteryJ. sweat glandK. hair follicleL. Pacinian corpuscleskin (sk?n)n.1. The membranous tissue forming the external covering or integument of an animal and consisting in vertebrates of the epidermis and dermis.2. An animal pelt, especially the comparatively pliable pelt of a small or young animal: a tent made of goat skins.3. a. A usually thin, closely adhering outer layer: the skin of a peach; a sausage skin; the skin of an aircraft.b. A thin, close-fitting, usually elastic garment, especially a shirt, worn by scuba divers and others who engage in water sports for protection against scrapes and other superficial injuries.4. A container for liquids that is made of animal skin.5. Music A drumhead.6. One of a pair of strips of fabric or other material temporarily applied to the undersides of a pair of skis to provide traction while ascending slopes.7. Computers A design layout for the interface of a program such as a media player or instant messaging application that a user can select and often customize in order to alter the default appearance.8. Informal One’s life or physical survival: They lied to save their skins.v. skinned, skin·ning, skins v.tr.1. To remove skin from: skinned and gutted the rabbit.2. To bruise, cut, or injure the skin or surface of: She skinned her knee.3. To remove (an outer covering); peel off: skin off the thin bark.4. To cover with a skin or a similar layer: skin the framework of a canoe.5. Slang To fleece; swindle.v.intr.1. To become covered with skin or a similar layer: In January the pond skins over with ice.2. To pass with little room to spare: We barely skinned by.adj. Slang Of, relating to, or depicting pornography: skin magazines.Idioms: by the skin of (one’s) teeth By the smallest margin. get under (someone’s) skin1. To irritate or stimulate; provoke.2. To preoccupy someone; become an obsession. have a thick skin1. To be slow to take offense.2. To be insensitive to the needs or concerns of others. make (one’s) skin/flesh crawl To cause one to be afraid or disgusted. under the skin Beneath the surface; fundamentally: enemies who are really brothers under the skin.[Middle English, from Old Norse skinn; see sek- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.skin (sk?n) n1. (Zoology) a. the tissue forming the outer covering of the vertebrate body: it consists of two layers (the dermis and epidermis), the outermost of which may be covered with hair, scales, feathers, etc. It is mainly protective and sensory in functionb. (as modifier): a skin disease. See also dermis, epidermiscutaneousdermatoid2. a person’s complexion: a fair skin. 3. (Biology) any similar covering in a plant or lower animal4. any coating or film, such as one that forms on the surface of a liquid5. (Tanning) unsplit leather made from the outer covering of various mammals, reptiles, etc. Compare hide216. (Tanning) the outer covering of a fur-bearing animal, dressed and finished with the hair on7. a container made from animal skin8. (Aeronautics) the outer covering surface of a vessel, rocket, etc9. a person’s skin regarded as his life: to save one’s skin. 10. (Instruments) (often plural) informal (in jazz or pop use) a drum11. informal short for skinhead12. (Recreational Drugs) slang a cigarette paper used for rolling a cannabis cigarette13. slang Irish a person; sort: he’s a good old skin. 14. by the skin of one’s teeth by a narrow margin; only just15. get under one’s skin informal to irritate one16. jump out of one’s skin to be very startled17. no skin off one’s nose informal not a matter that affects one adversely18. skin and bone extremely thin19. thick skin an insensitive nature20. thin skin a sensitive naturevb, skins, skinning or skinned21. (tr) to remove the outer covering from (fruit, etc)22. (Pathology) (tr) to scrape a small piece of skin from (a part of oneself) in falling, etc: he skinned his knee. 23. (often foll by over) to cover (something) with skin or a skinlike substance or (of something) to become covered in this way24. (tr) slang to strip of money; swindleadj25. relating to or for the skin: skin cream. 26. slang chiefly US involving or depicting nudity: skin magazines. [Old English scinn, from Old Norse skinn] ?skinless adj ?skin?like adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014skin (sk?n) n., v. skinned, skin?ning, adj. n. 1. the external covering or integument of an animal body, esp. when soft and flexible. 2. such an integument stripped from the body of an animal, esp. a small animal; pelt: a beaver skin. 3. the tanned or treated hide of an animal; leather (usu. used in combination): calfskin. 4. any integumentary covering, casing, outer coating, or surface layer, as an investing membrane, the rind of fruit, or a film on liquid. 5. a casing, as of metal or plastic, around an object: the skin of a computer monitor. 6. a container made of animal skin, used for holding liquids, esp. wine. 7. skins, Slang. drums. 8. Slang. a dollar bill. v.t. 9. to strip or deprive of skin; flay; peel; husk. 10. to remove or strip off (any covering, surface layer, etc.). 11. to scrape or rub a small piece of skin from (a part of the body), as in falling. 12. to urge on, drive, or whip (a draft animal, as a mule or ox). 13. to climb or jump: to skin a wall with one leap. 14. to cover with or as if with skin. 15. to strip of money or belongings; fleece, as in gambling. adj. 16. a. showing or featuring nude persons, often in a sexually explicit way: a skin magazine. b. presenting films, shows, etc., that feature nude persons, esp. in a sexually explicit way: a notorious skin house. Idioms: 1. by the skin of one’s teeth, by an extremely narrow margin; just barely. 2. get under one’s skin, a. to irritate; bother. b. to affect deeply; impress. 3. have a thick (or thin) skin, to be remarkably insensitive (or sensitive), esp. to criticism. [1150?1200; Middle English (n.)