peel

¹peel

verb \ˈpēl\

Definition of PEEL

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

1

a : to come off in sheets or scales b : to lose an outer layer (as of skin) <his face is peeling>

2

: to take off one's clothes

3

: to break away from a group or formation —often used with off

— peel·able \ˈpē-lə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of PEEL

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

Origin of PEEL

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

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to PEEL

Synonyms: bark, flay, hull, husk, shell, shuck, skin

Related Words: bare, denude, expose, scale, strip; pare

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with PEEL

ceil, chiel, creel, deal, deil, eel, feel, heal, heel, keel, Kiel, kneel, leal, meal, peal, real, reel, seal, seel, shiel, speel, spiel, squeal, steal, steel, Steele, streel, teal, tuille, veal, weal, wheal, wheel, zeal