Dictionary
1skinny
adjective skin·ny \ˈski-nē\
: very thin or too thin
skin·ni·erskin·ni·est
Full Definition of SKINNY
1
: resembling skin : membranous
2
a : lacking sufficient flesh : very thin : emaciated b : lacking usual or desirable bulk, quantity, qualities, or significance
— skin·ni·ness noun
See skinny defined for English-language learners
See skinny defined for kids
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First Known Use of SKINNY
1573
Related to SKINNY
Synonym Discussion of SKINNY
lean, spare, lank, lanky, gaunt, rawboned, scrawny, skinny mean thin because of an absence of excess flesh. lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours <a lean racehorse>. spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise <the gymnast's spare figure>. lank implies tallness as well as leanness <the lank legs of the heron>. lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness <a lanky youth, all arms and legs>. gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering <a prisoner's gaunt face>. rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment <a rawboned farmer>. scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality <a scrawny chicken> <skinny street urchins>.
2skinny
noun
Definition of SKINNY
slang : inside information : dope <the straight skinny on what's going on — John Geary>
See skinny defined for English-language learners
Origin of SKINNY
perhaps from 1skin + 4-y
First Known Use: 1938
SKINNIEST Defined for Kids
skinny
adjective skin·ny \ˈski-nē\
skin·ni·erskin·ni·est
Definition of SKINNY for Kids
: very thin <skinny legs>
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