Definition of 'peel'

peel

(piːl )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense peels , present participle peeling , past tense, past participle peeled

1. uncountable noun

The peel of a fruit such as a lemon or an apple is its skin.

...grated lemon peel.

Synonyms: rind, skin, peeling, epicarp More Synonyms of peel

You can also refer to a peel.

[US]

...a banana peel.

2. verb

When you peel fruit or vegetables, you remove their skins.

She sat down and began peeling potatoes. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: skin, scale, strip, pare More Synonyms of peel

3. verb

If you peel off something that has been sticking to a surface or if it peels off, it comes away from the surface.

One of the kids was peeling plaster off the wall. [V n + off/from]

It took me two days to peel off the labels. [V n with off/away]

Paint was peeling off the walls. [V + off/from]

The wallpaper was peeling away close to the ceiling. [V off/away]

...an unrenovated bungalow with slightly peeling blue paint. [VERB-ing]

4. verb [usually cont]

If a surface is peeling, the paint on it is coming away.

Its once-elegant white pillars are peeling. [VERB]

5. verb [usually cont]

If you are peeling or if your skin is peeling, small pieces of skin are coming off, usually because you have been burned by the sun.

His face was peeling from sunburn. [VERB]

6. to keep your eyes peeled

Phrasal verbs:

See peel off

Video: pronunciation of
peel

peel in British English 1

(piːl )

verb

1. (transitive)

to remove (the skin, rind, outer covering, etc) of (a fruit, egg, etc)

2. (intransitive)

(of paint, etc) to be removed from a surface, esp through weathering

3. (intransitive)

(of a surface) to lose its outer covering of paint, etc esp through weathering

4. (intransitive)

(of a person or part of the body) to shed skin in flakes or (of skin) to be shed in flakes, esp as a result of sunburn

5. croquet

to put (another player's ball) through a hoop or hoops

6. See keep one's eyes peeled

noun

the skin or rind of a fruit, etc

Word origin

Old English pilian to strip off the outer layer, from Latin pilāre to make bald, from pilus a hair

peel in British English 2

(piːl )

noun

a long-handled shovel used by bakers for moving bread, in an oven

Word origin

C14 pele, from Old French, from Latin pāla spade, from pangere to drive in; see palette

peel in British English 3

(piːl )

noun

(in Britain) a fortified tower of the 16th century on the borders between England and Scotland, built to withstand raids

Word origin

C14 (fence made of stakes): from Old French piel stake, from Latin pālus; see pale2, paling

Peel in British English

(piːl )

noun

John, real name John Robert Parker Ravenscroft. 1939–2004, British broadcaster; presented his influential Radio 1 music programme (1967–2004) and Radio 4's Home Truths (1998–2004)

Sir Robert. 1788–1850, British statesman; Conservative prime minister (1834–35; 1841–46). As Home Secretary (1828–30) he founded the Metropolitan Police and in his second ministry carried through a series of free-trade budgets culminating in the repeal of the Corn Laws (1846), which split the Tory party

Derived forms

Peelite (ˈPeelite)

noun

Peel in American English

(pil )

Sir Robert1788-1850; Brit. statesman: prime minister (1834-35; 1841-46)

peel in American English 1

(pil )

verb transitive

to cut away or strip off (the rind, skin, covering, surface, etc.) of (anything); pare

verb intransitive

to shed skin, bark, etc.

to come off in layers or flakes, as old paint

4. Slang

to undress

noun

the rind or skin of fruit

SIMILAR WORDS: skin

Idioms:

peel off

peel rubber

Derived forms

peeler (ˈpeeler)

noun

Word origin

ME pilien, peolien < OE *pilian < L pilare, to make bald < pilus, hair: see pile2

peel in American English 2

(pil )

noun

a long shovel-like tool used by bakers for moving bread into and out of the ovens

Word origin

ME pele < OFr < L pala, a spade

peel in American English 3

(pil )

noun

a fortified house or tower of a type built during the 16th cent. on the border between Scotland and England

Word origin

ME pel < Anglo-Fr < OFr, a fort, stake < L palus: see pale2

Examples of 'peel' in a sentence
peel

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Peel the potatoes and slice them thinly with a sharp knife or mandolin.The architecture is beginning to peel away.Stir-fry until crispy while you peel and finely chop the shallots.Peel the skin off the mackerel and put the flesh into a food processor.Peel the eggs and slice into quarters.Peel the potatoes and cut into quarters.Leave while you peel and finely chop the onion. Mix the beans, sultanas and lemon peel or zest in a bowl and set aside.In a large bowl, mash the peeled bananas with a fork.Peel and slice rest of garlic in thin rounds.