noun
flesh
flehsh
noun
1
The soft tissue of a human or animal body, especially muscle and fat, as distinct from bone.
"The arrow only grazed the flesh, missing the bone entirely."
"Vegetarians choose not to eat any animal flesh."
2
The physical body itself, especially when contrasted with the mind or spirit.
"The sermon spoke of the weakness of the flesh against temptation."
3
The soft, edible part of a fruit or vegetable, beneath the skin.
"Scoop out the flesh of the avocado with a spoon."
verb
1
To flesh out: to add detail and substance to something, such as an idea or a plan.
"We need to flesh out this proposal before pitching it to investors."
How to Use Flesh
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe soft body tissue on a person, animal, or plant — or, in the phrase "flesh out," to add more detail to something thin or vague.
Common mistake
"In the flesh" means in person, physically present — not literally about skin or muscle.
Common pairings
flesh and blood
flesh out an idea
flesh wound
in the flesh
Word Forms
fleshed past tense, fleshes plural, fleshes singular
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The arrow only grazed the _____, missing the bone entirely.
Etymology
From Old English flaesc ("flesh, meat"), a very old Germanic word shared with German Fleisch and Dutch vlees.