peel
peel Lexical Profile
peel Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The outer skin or rind of a fruit or vegetable.
"She grated the lemon peel to add extra flavor to the pound cake."
A cosmetic treatment in which a chemical or abrasive solution is applied to the skin to remove dead cells.
"She booked an appointment at the dermatologist for a light chemical peel to rejuvenate her skin."
A flat, shovel-like tool with a long handle, used by bakers to slide bread or pizza into and out of an oven.
"The artisan baker used a wooden peel to carefully transfer the pizza onto the hot baking stone."
• verb
To strip or remove the outer layer, skin, or bark from a fruit, vegetable, or other object.
"You need to peel the potatoes before boiling them for the mash."
To lose an outer layer or covering in strips or flakes (especially of paint, skin, or wallpaper).
"The harsh summer sun caused the paint on the old wooden shed to peel."
To remove an article of clothing or a close-fitting covering by pulling or stripping it off.
"After the grueling hike, he couldn't wait to peel off his wet socks and boots."
• Rhymes for peel
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Old English 'pilian' (to strip or peel), ultimately from Latin 'pilare' (to strip of hair). The homonym 'peel' referring to a baker's tool derives separately from Old French 'pele' (shovel), from Latin 'pala' (spade).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.