verb

peel

verb

To remove the skin or outer layer from something.

"She peeled the potatoes before boiling them."

To come away in strips or flakes, especially of skin or paint.

"His sunburned skin started to peel after a few days."

noun

The skin or outer layer of a fruit or vegetable.

"Don't throw away the lemon peel — it's great for zesting."

How to Use Peel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo strip off an outer layer (like skin from fruit), or the outer layer itself.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "peal" (a loud ringing sound, as in "a peal of bells") — identical pronunciation, different meaning.

Easily confused with

peal →

Common pairings

peel an orange peel off banana peel

Word Forms

peeled past tense, peeled past tense, peeled past tense, peeled past tense, peels plural, peels plural, peels plural, peels plural, Peels plural, peels singular, peels singular, peels singular, peels singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ the potatoes before boiling them.

Etymology

From Old English and Old French roots meaning "to strip the hair or skin off," ultimately from Latin pilus, "hair." A word-relative of "pill."

Synonyms

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Peel Region Region of Peel Regional Municipality of Peel

Rhymes for peel

eel heel feel keel reel Neel kneel wheel steel creel genteel newsreel

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Peel Region Region of Peel Regional Municipality of Peel