fleʃ n. & v. --n. 1 a
the soft,
esp.
muscular,
substance between the
skin and bones of an
animal or a
human. b plumpness;
fat (has put on flesh). c
archaic meat, esp. excluding
poultry, game, and
offal. 2 the
body as opposed to the
mind or the
soul, esp. considered as
sinful. 3 the pulpy substance of a
fruit or a
plant. 4 a the
visible surface of the human body
with ref. to
its colour or
appearance. b (also flesh-colour) a yellowish
pink colour. 5 animal or human
life. --v.tr. 1
embody in flesh. 2
incite (a
hound etc.) by the
taste of
blood. 3
initiate, esp. by
aggressive or
violent means, esp.: a
use (a
sword etc.)
for the
first time on flesh. b use (wit, the
pen, etc.) for the first time. c
inflame (a person) by the
foretaste of
success. øall flesh
all human and animal
creation. flesh and blood --n. 1 the body or its substance. 2
humankind. 3 human
nature, esp. as
being fallible. --adj.
actually living,
not imaginary or
supernatural. flesh-fly (pl. -flies)
any fly of the
family Sarcophagidae
that deposits eggs or larvae in
dead flesh. flesh
out make or
become substantial. flesh
side the side of a hide that adjoined the flesh. flesh tints flesh-colours as rendered by a painter. flesh-wound a wound not reaching a
bone or a
vital organ. in the flesh in
bodily form, in
person.
lose (or put on) flesh
grow thinner or fatter. make a person's flesh
creep frighten or
horrify a person, esp. with
tales of the supernatural etc.
one flesh (of
two people) intimately united, esp. by
virtue of
marriage (Gen. 2:24). one's
own flesh and blood
near relatives; descendants. sins of the flesh unchastity. the
way of all flesh
experience common to all
mankind. øøfleshless adj. [OE flósc f. Gmc]