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¹flesh

noun \ˈflesh\

: the soft parts of the body of an animal or person

: the skin of a person

: parts of an animal used as food

Full Definition of FLESH

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

a : edible parts of an animal

b : flesh of a mammal or fowl eaten as food

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

a : human beings : humankind

b : living beings

c : stock, kindred

: a fleshy plant part used as food; also : the fleshy part of a fruit

Christian Science : an illusion that matter has sensation

: substance <insights buried in the flesh of the narrative — Jan Carew>

— in the flesh

: in person and alive

See flesh defined for English-language learners

See flesh defined for kids

Origin of FLESH

Middle English, from Old English flǣsc; akin to Old High German fleisk flesh and perhaps to Old English flēan to flay — more at flay

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FLESH

Synonyms: meat

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with FLESH

crèche, flèche, fresh, mesh, thresh

²flesh

verb

Definition of FLESH

transitive verb

: to initiate or habituate especially by giving a foretaste

archaic : gratify

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>

: to free from flesh

intransitive verb

: to become fleshy —often used with up or out

See flesh defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of FLESH

1530

FLESH Defined for Kids

flesh

noun \ˈflesh\

Definition of FLESH for Kids

: the soft parts of an animal's or person's body

: the part of an animal that is eaten : meat

: a soft edible plant part <an apple's white flesh>

Medical Dictionary

flesh

noun \ˈflesh\

Medical Definition of FLESH

: 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 visceral structures, bone, and integuments—see goose bumps, proud flesh

—fleshed \ˈflesht\ adjective