WordGarden.ioskinless
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /skˈɪnləs/
US
- /ˈskɪnləs/
Meanings
Adjective
with the skin removed for cooking or eating
having no skin or outer skin covering
Beyond the definition
Imagine a piece of chicken or fish in the kitchen: if it is skinless, the outer skin has been removed, so the flesh is directly exposed. This word is used mostly in a literal way, especially for food, but it can also describe anything that has no skin or has lost its outer covering. The main idea is simple: there is no skin on the outside.
The word skinless describes something that has no skin on it or has had its skin removed. You will see it most often in everyday language when people talk about food, such as skinless chicken breasts or skinless fish fillets. In these cases, it simply means the outer skin is gone, leaving the flesh uncovered and ready to cook.
It can also be used more generally for something literally lacking its usual outer layer. For example, in a descriptive or medical context, a badly scraped area of skin might be described as looking almost skinless. Even there, the meaning stays close to the basic idea: the normal protective surface is missing.
This is not usually a strongly figurative word. Most of the time, it is plain and physical. If you hear skinless, think first of the literal image: something without the skin that would normally cover it.
Examples
- 1
Recipe ingredient
The recipe calls for skinless chicken breasts.
- 2
Food packaging
She bought boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the curry.
- Usage
boneless, skinless is a very common phrase on food packaging
- 3
Meal prep
These chicken pieces are already skinless, so you can cook them right away.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- skinlessadjective