flesh
- flesh
-
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English flǣsc; akin to Old High German fleisk flesh and perhaps to Old English flēan to flay — more at flay
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. the soft parts of the body of an animal and especially of a vertebrate; especially the parts composed chiefly of skeletal muscle as distinguished from internal organs, bone, and integument
b. the condition of having ample fat on the body <
cattle in good flesh
>
c. skin
2.
a. edible parts of an animal
b. flesh of a mammal or fowl eaten as food
3.
a. the physical nature of human beings <the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak — Matthew 26:41(Authorized Version)
>
b. human nature
4.
a. human beings ; mankind
b. living beings
c. stock, kindred
5. a fleshy plant part used as food; also the fleshy part of a fruit
6. Christian Science an illusion that matter has sensation
7. substance <insights buried in the flesh of the narrative — Jan Carew
>
II. verb
Date: 1530
transitive verb
1. to initiate or habituate especially by giving a foretaste
2. archaic gratify
3.
a. to clothe or cover with or as if with flesh; broadly to give substance to — usually used with out <flesh out a plan
>
b. to make fuller or more nearly complete — used with out <museums fleshing out their collections with borrowed works
>
4. to free from flesh
intransitive verb
to become fleshy — often used with up or out
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
Flesh — (fl[e^]sh), n. [OE. flesch, flesc, AS. fl[=ae]sc; akin to OFries. fl[=a]sk, D. vleesch, OS. fl[=e]sk, OHG. fleisc, G. fleisch, Icel. & Dan. flesk lard, bacon, pork, Sw. fl[ a]sk.] 1. The aggregate of the muscles, fat, and other tissues which… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
flesh — [flesh] n. [ME < OE flæsc, akin to Ger fleisch < ? IE base * plēk , to tear off > FLAY] 1. a) the soft substance of the body (of a person or animal) between the skin and the bones; esp., the muscular tissue b) the surface or skin of the… … English World dictionary
FLESH — (Heb. בָּשָׂר, basar), a word used both in the Bible and Talmud for mortal man and for the flesh of animals (for the latter aspect, see meat ). Eve is called by Adam bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh (Gen. 2:23), i.e., my close relative (cf … Encyclopedia of Judaism
flesh — ► NOUN 1) the soft substance in the body consisting of muscle tissue and fat. 2) the edible pulpy part of a fruit or vegetable. 3) the surface of the human body with reference to its appearance or sensory properties. 4) (the flesh) the… … English terms dictionary
flesh´i|ly — flesh|y «FLEHSH ee», adjective, flesh|i|er, flesh|i|est. 1. having much flesh; fat; plump. SYNONYM(S): corpulent, stout … Useful english dictionary
flesh|y — «FLEHSH ee», adjective, flesh|i|er, flesh|i|est. 1. having much flesh; fat; plump. SYNONYM(S): corpulent, stout … Useful english dictionary
Flesh — Flesh, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fleshed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fleshing}.] 1. To feed with flesh, as an incitement to further exertion; to initiate; from the practice of training hawks and dogs by feeding them with the first game they take, or other… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Flesh — is the soft part of the body of a person or animal which is between the skin and the bones. In ordinary speech, it typically contrasts with bone, as in the merism flesh and bone . It mainly refers to skeletal muscle and associated fat, though it… … Wikipedia
flesh — [n1] body tissue, skin beef, brawn, cells, corpuscles, fat, fatness, flesh and blood, food, meat, muscle, plasm, plasma, protoplasm, sinews, thews, weight; concept 392 flesh [n2] humankind animality, carnality, homo sapiens, humanity, human… … New thesaurus
flesh|ly — «FLEHSH lee», adjective, li|er, li|est. 1. of the flesh; bodily; corporeal. 2. Figurative. of man s physical nature; sensual: »pretty lyrics of fleshly love (Joseph Slater) … Useful english dictionary
flesh|er — «FLEHSH uhr», noun. 1. a person who fleshes hides. 2. a knifelike tool used for fleshing. 3. Scottish. a butcher … Useful english dictionary
