peel

¹peel

verb \ˈpēl\

Definition of PEEL

transitive verb

1

: to strip off an outer layer of <peel an orange>

2

: to remove by stripping <peel the label off the can>

intransitive verb

1

a : to come off in sheets or scales

b : to lose an outer layer (as of skin) <his face is peeling>

2

: to take off one's clothes

3

: to break away from a group or formation —often used with off

— peel·able \ˈpē-lə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of PEEL

1. They peeled back the sheet to display the new sculpture.
2. She got sunburned and her back is peeling.

Origin of PEEL

Middle English pelen, from Anglo-French peler, from Latin pilare to remove the hair from, from pilus hair

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to PEEL

Synonyms

bark, flay, hull, husk, shell, shuck, skin

Related Words

bare, denude, expose, scale, strip; pare

Rhymes with PEEL

ceil, chiel, creel, deal, deil, eel, feel, heal, heel, keel, Kiel, kneel, leal, meal, peal, real, reel, seal, seel, shiel, speel, spiel, squeal, steal, steel, Steele, streel, teal, tuille, veal, weal, wheal, wheel, zeal

²peel

noun

Definition of PEEL

1

: the skin or rind of a fruit

2

: a thin layer of organic material that is embedded in a film of collodion and stripped from the surface of an object (as a plant fossil) for microscopic study

3

: chemical peel

First Known Use of PEEL

14th century

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

³peel

noun

Definition of PEEL

: a usually long-handled spade-shaped instrument that is used chiefly by bakers for getting something (as bread or pies) into or out of the oven

Origin of PEEL

Middle English pele, from Anglo-French, from Latin pala

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil

⁴peel

noun

Definition of PEEL

: a medieval small massive fortified tower along the Scottish-English border —called also peel tower

Origin of PEEL

Middle English (Scots) pel, from Middle English, stockade, stake, from Anglo-French, stake, from Latin palus — more at pole

First Known Use: 1726

Peel

biographical name \ˈpēl\

Definition of PEEL

Sir Robert 1788–1850 Eng. statesman

Peel

geographical name \ˈpēl\

Definition of PEEL

river 425 miles (684 kilometers) NW Canada rising in W Yukon Territory & flowing E & N into the Mackenzie