Skin vs. Hide — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 3, 2024
Skin refers to the thin outer covering of animals and humans, mainly for protection and sensation; hide, however, is specifically the skin of large animals processed for leather.
Difference Between Skin and Hide
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Skin is the outermost layer covering the bodies of humans and animals, crucial for sensation and protection against environmental factors. Whereas hide refers to the skin of large animals like cows or horses, especially after it has been removed from the body for use in leather-making.
Human and animal skin contains several layers including the epidermis and dermis, providing sensory feedback and thermoregulation. On the other hand, a hide is often treated through processes like tanning to produce leather, emphasizing its utility in manufacturing rather than biological functions.
Skin plays a vital role in regulating body temperature through mechanisms like sweating. Whereas hide, when converted into leather, loses this biological function, becoming a durable and aesthetic material used in various products.
Diseases and conditions can affect the skin, such as eczema or psoriasis, which are studied in dermatology. On the other hand, hides are subject to issues like decay and pests before they are processed, focusing more on preservation techniques in industrial settings.
The care and treatment of skin involves daily routines and cosmetic products to maintain its health and appearance. In contrast, hides require industrial processes such as curing, tanning, and dyeing to transform them into usable leather goods.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The flexible outer tissue covering vertebrates.
The skin of large animals used for leather.
Primary Function
Protection, sensation, thermoregulation.
Used in manufacturing of leather goods.
Layers
Epidermis, dermis, hypodermis.
Generally processed, thickness varies.
Related Conditions
Acne, eczema, skin cancer.
Decay, damage during processing.
Care
Moisturizing, cleansing, medical treatments.
Tanning, curing, dyeing in processing.
Compare with Definitions
Skin
In technology, a "skin" can mean a graphical appearance or interface.
You can customize the skin of your software for a personalized look.
Hide
In historical contexts, a hide was a land measurement unit.
His family owned one hide of land in medieval England.
Skin
In slang, “skin” can refer to showing bare skin or to nudity.
The dress’s cut was low, designed to skin a bit of the back.
Hide
Hide can also refer to a protective place.
The deer found a hide in the dense forest from predators.
Skin
Skin also refers to a thin layer covering something, like fruit.
The skin of an apple can contain many nutrients.
Hide
The skin of a large animal, used or prepared for tanning.
The craftsman sourced a high-quality hide for the new leather jacket.
Skin
Informally, to skin something means to remove its skin.
She skinned the chicken before cooking it.
Hide
To hide means to put or keep out of sight.
He decided to hide the gift in the closet until her birthday.
Skin
The external covering of an organism’s body, primarily for protection and sensation.
Human skin regenerates itself approximately every 27 days.
Hide
Informally, hide can mean the human skin, especially in idioms like “save one's hide.”
Wearing a helmet while biking can save your hide.
Skin
Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation.Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different developmental origin, structure and chemical composition. The adjective cutaneous means "of the skin" (from Latin cutis 'skin').
Hide
To put or keep out of sight or away from notice
Hid the money in a sock.
Skin
The thin layer of tissue forming the natural outer covering of the body of a person or animal
A flap of skin
I use body lotion to keep my skin supple
Hide
To prevent the disclosure or recognition of; conceal
Tried to hide the facts.
Skin
The peel or outer layer of certain fruits or vegetables
Potatoes roasted in their skins
Hide
To cut off from sight; cover up
Clouds hid the stars.
Skin
A customized graphic user interface for an application or operating system.
Hide
To avert (one's gaze), especially in shame or grief.
Skin
A skinhead
We were surrounded by skins with tattoos and braces
Hide
To keep oneself out of sight or notice.
Skin
(especially in jazz) a drum or drum head.
Hide
To seek refuge or respite
"no place to hide from boredom or anger or loneliness" (Matt Teague).
Skin
Relating to or denoting pornographic literature or films
The skin trade
Hide
To beat severely; flog.
Skin
A card game in which each player has one card which they bet will not be the first to be matched by a card dealt from the pack.
Hide
The skin of an animal, especially the thick tough skin or pelt of a large animal.
Skin
A unit into which an Aboriginal people is divided, typically on the basis of descent, each skin being associated with a totemic bird, animal, or insect.
Hide
An old English measure of land, usually the amount held adequate for one free family and its dependents.
Skin
Remove the skin from (an animal or a fruit or vegetable)
Scald and skin the tomatoes
She skinned the pig and salted the carcass
Hide
(transitive) To put (something) in a place where it will be harder to discover or out of sight.
He hides his magazines under the bed.
The politicians were accused of keeping information hidden from the public.
Skin
Take money from or swindle (someone)
I ain't no dummy, and I know when I'm being skinned
Hide
(intransitive) To put oneself in a place where one will be harder to find or out of sight.
Skin
(of a wound) form new skin
The hole in his skull skinned over
Hide
To beat with a whip made from hide.
Skin
(of a player) take the ball past (a defender) with ease
Kanchelskis would have skinned him
Hide
(countable) The skin of an animal.
Skin
Make a cannabis cigarette
We had a few beers and then we skinned up
Hide
The human skin.
Skin
The membranous tissue forming the external covering or integument of an animal and consisting in vertebrates of the epidermis and dermis.
Hide
One's own life or personal safety, especially when in peril.
To save his own hide
Better watch his hide
Skin
An animal pelt, especially the comparatively pliable pelt of a small or young animal
A tent made of goat skins.
Hide
(countable) mainly British A covered structure from which hunters, birdwatchers, etc can observe animals without scaring them.
Skin
A usually thin, closely adhering outer layer
The skin of a peach.
A sausage skin.
The skin of an aircraft.
Hide
A secret room for hiding oneself or valuables; a hideaway.
Skin
A thin, close-fitting, usually elastic garment, especially a shirt, worn by scuba divers and others who engage in water sports for protection against scrapes and other superficial injuries.
Hide
(countable) A covered structure to which a pet animal can retreat, as is recommended for snakes.
Skin
A container for liquids that is made of animal skin.
Hide
(historical) A unit of land and tax assessment of varying size, originally as intended to support one household with dependents.
Skin
(Music) A drumhead.
Hide
To conceal, or withdraw from sight; to put out of view; to secrete.
A city that is set on an hill can not be hid.
If circumstances lead me, I will findWhere truth is hid.
Skin
One of a pair of strips of fabric or other material temporarily applied to the undersides of a pair of skis to provide traction while ascending slopes.
Hide
To withhold from knowledge; to keep secret; to refrain from avowing or confessing.
Heaven from all creatures hides the book of fate.
Skin
(Computers) A design layout for the interface of a program such as a media player or instant messaging application that a user can select and often customize in order to alter the default appearance.
Hide
To remove from danger; to shelter.
In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion.
Skin
(Informal) One's life or physical survival
They lied to save their skins.
Hide
To lie concealed; to keep one's self out of view; to be withdrawn from sight or observation.
Bred to disguise, in public 'tis you hide.
Skin
To remove skin from
Skinned and gutted the rabbit.
Hide
To flog; to whip.
Skin
To bruise, cut, or injure the skin or surface of
She skinned her knee.
Hide
An abode or dwelling.
Skin
To remove (an outer covering); peel off
Skin off the thin bark.
Hide
The skin of an animal, either raw or dressed; - generally applied to the undressed skins of the larger domestic animals, as oxen, horses, etc.
Skin
To cover with a skin or a similar layer
Skin the framework of a canoe.
Hide
The human skin; - so called in contempt.
O tiger's heart, wrapped in a woman's hide!
Skin
(Slang) To fleece; swindle.
Hide
The dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)
Skin
To become covered with skin or a similar layer
In January the pond skins over with ice.
Hide
Body covering of a living animal
Skin
To pass with little room to spare
We barely skinned by.
Hide
Prevent from being seen or discovered;
Muslim women hide their faces
Hide the money
Skin
Of, relating to, or depicting pornography
Skin magazines.
Hide
Be or go into hiding; keep out of sight, as for protection and safety;
Probably his horse would be close to where he was hiding
She is hiding out in a cabin in Montana
Skin
(uncountable) The outer protective layer of the body of any animal, including of a human.
He is so disgusting he makes my skin crawl.
Hide
Cover as if with a shroud;
The origins of this civilization are shrouded in mystery
Skin
(uncountable) The outer protective layer of the fruit of a plant.
Hide
Make undecipherable or imperceptible by obscuring or concealing;
A hidden message
A veiled threat
Skin
(countable) The skin and fur of an individual animal used by humans for clothing, upholstery, etc.
Skin
(countable) A congealed layer on the surface of a liquid.
In order to get to the rest of the paint in the can, you′ll have to remove the skin floating on top of it.
Skin
A set of resources that modifies the appearance and/or layout of the graphical user interface of a computer program.
You can use this skin to change how the browser looks.
Skin
An alternate appearance (texture map or geometry) for a character model in a video game.
Skin
Rolling paper for cigarettes.
Pass me a skin, mate.
Skin
Clipping of skinhead
Skin
(Australia) A subgroup of Australian aboriginal people; such divisions are cultural and not related to an individual′s physical skin.
Skin
A vessel made of skin, used for holding liquids.
Skin
(nautical) That part of a sail, when furled, which remains on the outside and covers the whole.
Skin
(nautical) The covering, as of planking or iron plates, outside the framing, forming the sides and bottom of a vessel; the shell; also, a lining inside the framing.
Skin
(aviation) The outer surface covering much of the wings and fuselage of an aircraft.
Skin
A drink of whisky served hot.
Skin
A purse.
Skin
(transitive) To injure the skin of.
He fell off his bike and skinned his knee on the concrete.
Skin
(transitive) To remove the skin and/or fur of an animal or a human.
Skin
(colloquial) To high five.
Skin
To apply a skin to (a computer program).
Can I skin the application to put the picture of my cat on it?
Skin
To use tricks to go past a defender.
Skin
(intransitive) To become covered with skin.
A wound eventually skins over.
Skin
(transitive) To cover with skin, or as if with skin; hence, to cover superficially.
Skin
To produce, in recitation, examination, etc., the work of another for one's own, or to use cribs, memoranda, etc., which are prohibited.
Skin
To strip of money or property; to cheat.
Skin
The external membranous integument of an animal.
Skin
The hide of an animal, separated from the body, whether green, dry, or tanned; especially, that of a small animal, as a calf, sheep, or goat.
Skin
A vessel made of skin, used for holding liquids. See Bottle, 1.
Skin
The bark or husk of a plant or fruit; the exterior coat of fruits and plants.
Skin
That part of a sail, when furled, which remains on the outside and covers the whole.
Skin
To strip off the skin or hide of; to flay; to peel; as, to skin an animal.
Skin
To cover with skin, or as with skin; hence, to cover superficially.
It will but skin and film the ulcerous place.
Skin
To strip of money or property; to cheat.
Skin
To become covered with skin; as, a wound skins over.
Skin
To produce, in recitation, examination, etc., the work of another for one's own, or to use in such exercise cribs, memeoranda, etc., which are prohibited.
Skin
A natural protective covering of the body; site of the sense of touch;
Your skin is the largest organ of your body
Skin
The tissue forming the hard outer layer (of e.g. a fruit)
Skin
An outer surface (usually thin);
The skin of an airplane
Skin
Body covering of a living animal
Skin
A person's skin regarded as their life;
He tried to save his skin
Skin
The rind of a fruit or vegetable
Skin
A bag serving as a container for liquids; it is made from the skin of an animal
Skin
Climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
Skin
Bruise, cut, or injure the skin or the surface of;
The boy skinned his knee when he fell
Skin
Remove the bark of a tree
Skin
Strip the skin off;
Pare apples
Skin
Strike against an object;
She stubbed her one's toe in the dark and now it's broken
Common Curiosities
What is the primary biological function of skin?
The primary function of skin is to protect the body from environmental hazards and to regulate body temperature.
How is skin maintained?
Skin maintenance involves regular cleaning, moisturizing, and protection from UV light.
What is hide primarily used for?
Hide is primarily used for making leather products.
Are there any similar care practices between skin and hide?
Both require protection, skin from environmental damage and hide from decay during processing.
Can the term "hide" refer to anything other than animal skin?
Yes, it can also refer to concealing something or someone, or as a historical measure of land.
What differentiates skin from hide when referring to their uses?
Skin is primarily for biological purposes while hide is commercial, used in leather making.
Why is skin considered an organ?
Skin is considered an organ because it has specific functions and is made of various tissues.
What processes are involved in converting hide into leather?
The processes include curing, tanning, and sometimes dyeing.
What are common ailments that can affect skin?
Common skin ailments include acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
How does hide react to environmental factors before processing?
Before processing, hide can decay or be damaged by pests if not properly stored.
What role does skin play in sensory feedback?
Skin contains nerves that help in sensing temperature, touch, and pain.
How does hide contribute to fashion?
Processed hide, as leather, is a staple in fashion for making jackets, bags, and shoes.
What technological uses does the term "skin" have?
In technology, "skin" refers to a customizable graphical interface for software or apps.
Is hide ever treated to resemble skin in texture and flexibility?
Yes, during leather processing, treatments can make hide flexible and textured similarly to skin.
Can skin diseases affect hide?
Skin diseases affect living beings, not processed hides; however, the quality of hide can be impacted by the health of the animal’s skin.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
