peeled; peeling; peels
1
: to strip off an outer layer of
peel an orange
2
: to remove by stripping
peel the label off the can
1
a
: 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
L. M. Uris3
: to break away from a group or formation
—often used with off
Like corals, the branches of sponges can peel off and reestablish themselves as new colonies. Natural History
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
: 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
: a medieval small massive fortified tower along the Scottish-English border
called also peel tower
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.
Recent Examples on the WebTIME, 2 Apr. 2024
The sound of velcro ripping reverberated through the stunned, silent locker room when Padilla peeled the nameplate off her locker.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The toddler could be seen running from one area to another, keeping his eyes peeled for a plastic egg to add to his basket.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Midway down a wide outdoor stairway, Yuan Heng Spice Co. offers all manner of spices, including Sichuan peppercorns, cinnamon bark and aged citrus peels.
—Tiffany May, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024
Starting peeling at the large end, holding the egg under cold, running water to help ease the shell off.
—Liz Biro, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Mar. 2024
In her traditional recipe, the eggs are hard-cooked and peeled in advance, then warmed in a fragrant tomato base spiked with fresh ginger and garam masala.
—Melissa Clark, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
From there, the play becomes a kind of crucifixion, as the doctor’s supporters peel away, each for his own seemingly reasonable reason.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024
To segment oranges, peel the oranges with a small, sharp knife, removing all the white pith.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
This bundle includes three accessories—a pizza peel, a cutter, and a thermometer—yet the price ends up the same as the oven alone thanks to the coupon code.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024
Add milk mixture and lemon peel; cook, whisking until foamy.
—Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024
More flavor spikes to have on hand Aleppo pepper, smoked paprika, brewer’s yeast, lime and lemon juice, grated lemon peel, fish sauce, Parmesan cheese rinds, finishing salts.
—Michelle Huneven, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The at-home treatment is one of the most budget-friendly and highly effective peels.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
When a fresh juicer was creating excess peel waste in the Dublin office, a brewery nearby used it to make citrus beer.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
The citrus grass variety is made with citrus peel and lemongrass, while the pink burst, which was inspired by the pink Starburst candy, has hints of strawberry and cream.
—Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024
With his own pocketknife, V. swiftly made a spiral of red peel.
—Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
The result, by the early 2000s, was that 79% of the original white, working-class New Deal counties had peeled away from the coalition.
—TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
The sound of velcro ripping reverberated through the stunned, silent locker room when Padilla peeled the nameplate off her locker.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The toddler could be seen running from one area to another, keeping his eyes peeled for a plastic egg to add to his basket.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Midway down a wide outdoor stairway, Yuan Heng Spice Co. offers all manner of spices, including Sichuan peppercorns, cinnamon bark and aged citrus peels.
—Tiffany May, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024
Starting peeling at the large end, holding the egg under cold, running water to help ease the shell off.
—Liz Biro, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Mar. 2024
In her traditional recipe, the eggs are hard-cooked and peeled in advance, then warmed in a fragrant tomato base spiked with fresh ginger and garam masala.
—Melissa Clark, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
From there, the play becomes a kind of crucifixion, as the doctor’s supporters peel away, each for his own seemingly reasonable reason.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024
To segment oranges, peel the oranges with a small, sharp knife, removing all the white pith.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
Noun
A little more than a third of each bag is food scraps: vegetable peels, moldy berries, unwanted tuna salad—organic matter that, in another city, might have been composted.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
This bundle includes three accessories—a pizza peel, a cutter, and a thermometer—yet the price ends up the same as the oven alone thanks to the coupon code.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024
Add milk mixture and lemon peel; cook, whisking until foamy.
—Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024
More flavor spikes to have on hand Aleppo pepper, smoked paprika, brewer’s yeast, lime and lemon juice, grated lemon peel, fish sauce, Parmesan cheese rinds, finishing salts.
—Michelle Huneven, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The at-home treatment is one of the most budget-friendly and highly effective peels.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
When a fresh juicer was creating excess peel waste in the Dublin office, a brewery nearby used it to make citrus beer.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
The citrus grass variety is made with citrus peel and lemongrass, while the pink burst, which was inspired by the pink Starburst candy, has hints of strawberry and cream.
—Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024
With his own pocketknife, V. swiftly made a spiral of red peel.
—Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'peel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near peel
Cite this Entry
“Peel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peel. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
peel
1 of 2 verb1
: to strip off an outer layer of
peel an apple
2
: to strip or tear off
peeled off their coats
3
a
: to come off in strips or patches
the paint is peeling
b
: to lose an outer layer (as of skin)
your face is peeling
peeler
noun
peel
2 of 2 noun
: an outer covering and especially the skin or rind of a fruit
Medical Definition
peel
1 of 2 transitive verb1
: to strip off an outer layer of
2
: to remove (as skin or a blemish) by stripping
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
2 of 2 nounGeographical Definition
Peel
geographical name
river 425 miles (684 kilometers) long in northwestern Canada rising in western Yukon (territory) and flowing east and north into the Mackenzie River
Biographical Definition
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