peeled; peeling; peels
1
: to strip off an outer layer of
peel an orange
2
: to remove by stripping
peel the label off the can
1
a
: to come off in sheets or scales
The paint is peeling.
b
: to lose an outer layer (as of skin)
His face is peeling.
2
: to take off one's clothes
it got hotter … you had to peel to get relief—
L. M. Uris
L. M. Uris3
: to break away from a group or formation
—often used with off
Like corals, the branches of sponges can peel off and reestablish themselves as new colonies. Natural History
1
: the skin or rind of a fruit or vegetable
banana/lemon/potato peels
2
: a thin layer of organic material that is embedded in a film of collodion and stripped from the surface of an object (such as a plant fossil) for microscopic study
3
: a usually long-handled spade-shaped instrument that is used chiefly by bakers for getting something (such as bread or pies) into or out of the oven
: a medieval small massive fortified tower along the Scottish-English border
called also peel tower
Examples of peel in a Sentence
Verb
They peeled back the sheet to display the new sculpture.
She got sunburned and her back is peeling.
Recent Examples on the WebEisa Nefertari Ulen, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024
Curry, Thompson and Green peeled themselves off the visitor’s bench at the final horn, losers of the 9/10 play-in game.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
To elevate your kitchen space, Poe recommends tile backsplash for an elegant look—just peel and stick.
—Kara Peeler, Sunset Magazine, 15 Apr. 2024
As is true of just about everything in Los Angeles, peeling back the layers of a place leads to unexpected discoveries.
—Nick Owchar, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
An inexperienced cook will do just fine, though the prep work (peeling and chopping) might take longer.
—PCMAG, 27 Mar. 2024
In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for the opening of several developments by premium brands such as Rosewood, Bulgari, and Aman over the next three years.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2024
The result, by the early 2000s, was that 79% of the original white, working-class New Deal counties had peeled away from the coalition.
—TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
The sound of velcro ripping reverberated through the stunned, silent locker room when Padilla peeled the nameplate off her locker.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
This bundle includes three accessories—a pizza peel, a cutter, and a thermometer—yet the price ends up the same as the oven alone thanks to the coupon code.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024
Add milk mixture and lemon peel; cook, whisking until foamy.
—Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024
More flavor spikes to have on hand Aleppo pepper, smoked paprika, brewer’s yeast, lime and lemon juice, grated lemon peel, fish sauce, Parmesan cheese rinds, finishing salts.
—Michelle Huneven, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The at-home treatment is one of the most budget-friendly and highly effective peels.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
When a fresh juicer was creating excess peel waste in the Dublin office, a brewery nearby used it to make citrus beer.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
The citrus grass variety is made with citrus peel and lemongrass, while the pink burst, which was inspired by the pink Starburst candy, has hints of strawberry and cream.
—Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024
With his own pocketknife, V. swiftly made a spiral of red peel.
—Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
In that classic, the bad guys wear swastikas, political propaganda peels against town walls, and a bottle of Vichy water is tossed in the rubbish bin as love turns from romance to brotherhood in a surprise ending that commits to enduring freedom for all.
—Eisa Nefertari Ulen, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024
Curry, Thompson and Green peeled themselves off the visitor’s bench at the final horn, losers of the 9/10 play-in game.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
To elevate your kitchen space, Poe recommends tile backsplash for an elegant look—just peel and stick.
—Kara Peeler, Sunset Magazine, 15 Apr. 2024
As is true of just about everything in Los Angeles, peeling back the layers of a place leads to unexpected discoveries.
—Nick Owchar, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
An inexperienced cook will do just fine, though the prep work (peeling and chopping) might take longer.
—PCMAG, 27 Mar. 2024
In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for the opening of several developments by premium brands such as Rosewood, Bulgari, and Aman over the next three years.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2024
The result, by the early 2000s, was that 79% of the original white, working-class New Deal counties had peeled away from the coalition.
—TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
The sound of velcro ripping reverberated through the stunned, silent locker room when Padilla peeled the nameplate off her locker.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
A little more than a third of each bag is food scraps: vegetable peels, moldy berries, unwanted tuna salad—organic matter that, in another city, might have been composted.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
This bundle includes three accessories—a pizza peel, a cutter, and a thermometer—yet the price ends up the same as the oven alone thanks to the coupon code.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024
Add milk mixture and lemon peel; cook, whisking until foamy.
—Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024
More flavor spikes to have on hand Aleppo pepper, smoked paprika, brewer’s yeast, lime and lemon juice, grated lemon peel, fish sauce, Parmesan cheese rinds, finishing salts.
—Michelle Huneven, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The at-home treatment is one of the most budget-friendly and highly effective peels.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
When a fresh juicer was creating excess peel waste in the Dublin office, a brewery nearby used it to make citrus beer.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
The citrus grass variety is made with citrus peel and lemongrass, while the pink burst, which was inspired by the pink Starburst candy, has hints of strawberry and cream.
—Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024
With his own pocketknife, V. swiftly made a spiral of red peel.
—Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'peel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near peel
Cite this Entry
“Peel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peel. Accessed 22 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
peel
1 of 2 verb1
: to strip off an outer layer of
peel an apple
2
: to strip or tear off
peeled off their coats
3
a
: to come off in strips or patches
the paint is peeling
b
: to lose an outer layer (as of skin)
your face is peeling
peeler
noun
peel
2 of 2 noun
: an outer covering and especially the skin or rind of a fruit
Medical Definition
peel
1 of 2 transitive verb1
: to strip off an outer layer of
2
: to remove (as skin or a blemish) by stripping
1
: to come off in sheets or scales
sunburned skin peels
2
: to lose an outer layer (as of skin)
his face is peeling
peel
2 of 2 nounGeographical Definition
Peel
geographical name
river 425 miles (684 kilometers) long in northwestern Canada rising in western Yukon (territory) and flowing east and north into the Mackenzie River
Biographical Definition
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