flesh

Flesh is defined as the soft tissue between the body's skin and bones, or the soft part of a fruit or vegetable that's usually able to be eaten.

(noun)

See flesh in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

1. the soft substance of the body (of a person or animal) between the skin and the bones; esp., the muscular tissue
2. the surface or skin of the body: to feel one's flesh crawl
the flesh of any animal as food; meat; esp., meat other than fish or fowl
the pulpy or edible part of fruits and vegetables
the human body, as distinguished from the soul: more than flesh can bear
human nature, esp. in its sensual aspect
all living beings, esp. all humankind
kindred or relatives: now mainly in one's (own) flesh and blood: see phrase at flesh and blood
the typical color of a white person's skin; yellowish pink
Informal plumpness; fat: you've been putting on flesh

Origin: ME < OE flæsc, akin to Ger fleisch < ? IE base *plēk-, to tear off > flay

transitive verb

to feed (animals) with flesh so as to incite them to hunt or kill
to prepare for or incite to bloodshed, etc. by a foretaste
to harden; inure
to plunge (a weapon) into flesh
to put flesh on; fatten
to fill out as if with flesh; realize or make full, as by the addition of details: usually with out
to remove flesh from (a hide)

intransitive verb

to grow fleshy or fat: usually with out or up

See flesh in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. The soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate, covering the bones and consisting mainly of skeletal muscle and fat.
b. The surface or skin of the human body.
The meat of animals as distinguished from the edible tissue of fish or fowl.
Botany The pulpy, usually edible part of a fruit or vegetable.
Excess fatty tissue; plumpness.
a. The body as opposed to the mind or soul.
b. The physical or carnal nature of humankind.
c. Sensual appetites.
Humankind in general; humanity.
One's family; kin.
Substance; reality: “The maritime strategy has an all but unstoppable institutional momentum behind it . . . that has given force and flesh to the theory” (Jack Beatty).

verb fleshed, flesh·ing, flesh·es

verb, transitive

To give substance or detail to; fill out: fleshed out the novel with a subplot.
To clean (a hide) of adhering flesh.
To encourage (a falcon, for example) to participate in the chase by feeding it flesh from a kill.
To inure to battle or bloodshed.
To plunge or thrust (a weapon) into flesh.

verb, intransitive

To become plump or fleshy; gain weight.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English flǣsc

Related Forms: