Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

peel

verb
Save Word
\ ˈpēl How to pronounce peel (audio) \
peeled; peeling; peels

Definition of peel

 (Entry 1 of 6)

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

1a : to come off in sheets or scales The paint is peeling.
b : to lose an outer layer (as of skin) His face is peeling.
2 : to take off one's clothes it got hotter … you had to peel to get relief— L. M. Uris
3 : to break away from a group or formation —often used with offLike corals, the branches of sponges can peel off and reestablish themselves as new colonies. Natural History

peel

noun (1)

Definition of peel (Entry 2 of 6)

1 : the skin or rind of a fruit or vegetable banana/lemon/potato peels
2 : a thin layer of organic material that is embedded in a film of collodion and stripped from the surface of an object (such as a plant fossil) for microscopic study
3 : chemical peel

peel

noun (2)

Definition of peel (Entry 3 of 6)

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

peel

noun (3)

Definition of peel (Entry 4 of 6)

: a medieval small massive fortified tower along the Scottish-English border

— called also peel tower

Peel

biographical name
\ ˈpēl How to pronounce Peel (audio) \

Definition of Peel (Entry 5 of 6)

Sir Robert 1788–1850 English statesman

Peel

geographical name
\ ˈpēl How to pronounce Peel (audio) \

Definition of Peel (Entry 6 of 6)

river 425 miles (684 kilometers) long in northwestern Canada rising in western Yukon (territory) and flowing east and north into the Mackenzie River
Other Words from peel Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about peel

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from peel

Verb

peelable \ ˈpē-​lə-​bəl How to pronounce peelable (audio) \ adjective

Synonyms for peel

Synonyms: Verb

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Examples of peel in a Sentence

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

First Known Use of peel

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1726, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for peel

Verb and Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

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

Noun (3)

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about peel

Time Traveler for peel

Time Traveler

The first known use of peel was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Statistics for peel

Cite this Entry

“Peel.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peeled. Accessed 22 January 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for peel

peel

verb
How to pronounce Peel (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of peel

: to remove the skin from (a fruit, vegetable, etc.)
: to remove (a covering, shell, etc.) from something
: to come off in pieces

See the full definition for peel in the English Language Learners Dictionary

peel

verb
\ ˈpēl How to pronounce peel (audio) \
peeled; peeling

Kids Definition of peel

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to strip off the skin or bark of I'm peeling apples.
2 : to strip or tear off He peeled off his clothes down to his swimming trunks …— Virginia Hamilton, M.C. Higgins
3 : to come off smoothly or in bits The paint is peeling.

Other Words from peel

peeler \ ˈpē-​lər \ noun

peel

noun

Kids Definition of peel (Entry 2 of 2)

: an outer covering and especially the skin of a fruit

peel

transitive verb
\ ˈpēl How to pronounce peel (audio) \

Medical Definition of peel

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to strip off an outer layer of
2 : to remove (as skin or a blemish) by stripping

intransitive verb

1 : to come off in sheets or scales sunburned skin peels
2 : to lose an outer layer (as of skin) his face is peeling

peel

noun

Medical Definition of peel (Entry 2 of 2)

: chemical peel

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on peel

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for peel

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with peel

Spanish Central: Translation of peel

Nglish: Translation of peel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of peel for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about peel

Comments on peel

What made you want to look up peel? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

nurture

Listen to the pronounciation of nurture

to help to grow, develop, or succeed

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Intact Latin Quiz

  • roman tablet
  • What did focus mean in Latin?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games