Skin vs. Skinned — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 21, 2024
"Skin" refers to the outer covering of a body or surface, while "skinned" describes something that has had its skin removed or a surface that has been scraped.
Difference Between Skin and Skinned
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Skin" is a noun that refers to the outer layer of a living organism or an object. For example, human skin protects internal organs and maintains hydration. "Skinned," on the other hand, is an adjective or past tense verb that describes the action of removing the skin. For instance, a skinned knee has had its outer layer scraped off.
"Skin" can also be used metaphorically to describe the outer layer or appearance of something. A software application might have a customizable "skin" to change its look. "Skinned" is used to indicate that this outer layer has been removed or altered, such as in "skinned tomatoes" where the outer peel is taken off.
The term "skin" can be used in various contexts, such as in "skin care" products designed to maintain or enhance the health of the skin. Meanwhile, "skinned" is often used in culinary contexts, where ingredients like "skinned chicken" are prepared by removing the skin.
In sports or accidents, "skin" might refer to the part of the body that is prone to injury. For example, falling might cause abrasions on the skin. "Skinned" in this context would describe the result of such an injury, where the skin is abraded.
"Skin" has several idiomatic expressions, such as "thick skin," meaning emotional resilience. "Skinned" is less commonly used in idioms but might appear in phrases like "skinned alive," meaning to be severely criticized or punished.
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"Skin" serves as both a noun and a verb. As a verb, it means to remove the skin, as in "to skin an apple." "Skinned" is specifically the past participle of this verb, indicating that the action has been completed.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun, Verb
Adjective, Past Tense Verb
Definition
Outer covering of body/object
Having had the skin removed
Context of Use
Medical, aesthetic, metaphorical
Culinary, injury-related
Idiomatic Usage
"Thick skin"
"Skinned alive"
Verb Form
"To skin" (present)
"Skinned" (past)
Compare with Definitions
Skin
The outer covering of a living organism.
Her skin is very sensitive to sunlight.
Skinned
Past tense of skin.
He skinned the rabbit for dinner.
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').
Skinned
Scraped or injured.
She skinned her knee when she fell.
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
Skinned
Having been subjected to removal of a surface layer.
The skinned wood was ready for varnishing.
Skin
The peel or outer layer of certain fruits or vegetables
Potatoes roasted in their skins
Skinned
Prepared by removing the outer layer.
He likes his fish skinned before cooking.
Skin
A customized graphic user interface for an application or operating system.
Skinned
Having had the skin removed.
The recipe calls for skinned tomatoes.
Skin
A skinhead
We were surrounded by skins with tattoos and braces
Skinned
Having skin of a specified kind. Often used in combination
Fair-skinned.
Dark-skinned.
Skin
(especially in jazz) a drum or drum head.
Skinned
Having skin.
Skin
Relating to or denoting pornographic literature or films
The skin trade
Skinned
Covered in a thin membrane resembling skin.
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.
Skinned
Having skin (or similar outer layer) totally or partially removed.
My skinned knuckles hurt until the scrape healed.
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.
Skinned
(slang) Stripped of money or property.
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
Skinned
Simple past tense and past participle of skin
Skin
Take money from or swindle (someone)
I ain't no dummy, and I know when I'm being skinned
Skinned
Having the skin scraped off;
Skinned knees and scraped elbows
Skin
(of a wound) form new skin
The hole in his skull skinned over
Skin
(of a player) take the ball past (a defender) with ease
Kanchelskis would have skinned him
Skin
Make a cannabis cigarette
We had a few beers and then we skinned up
Skin
The membranous tissue forming the external covering or integument of an animal and consisting in vertebrates of the epidermis and dermis.
Skin
An animal pelt, especially the comparatively pliable pelt of a small or young animal
A tent made of goat skins.
Skin
A usually thin, closely adhering outer layer
The skin of a peach.
A sausage skin.
The skin of an aircraft.
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.
Skin
A container for liquids that is made of animal skin.
Skin
(Music) A drumhead.
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.
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.
Skin
(Informal) One's life or physical survival
They lied to save their skins.
Skin
To remove skin from
Skinned and gutted the rabbit.
Skin
To bruise, cut, or injure the skin or surface of
She skinned her knee.
Skin
To remove (an outer covering); peel off
Skin off the thin bark.
Skin
To cover with a skin or a similar layer
Skin the framework of a canoe.
Skin
(Slang) To fleece; swindle.
Skin
To become covered with skin or a similar layer
In January the pond skins over with ice.
Skin
To pass with little room to spare
We barely skinned by.
Skin
Of, relating to, or depicting pornography
Skin magazines.
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.
Skin
(uncountable) The outer protective layer of the fruit of a plant.
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
(slang) Bare flesh, particularly bare breasts.
Let me see a bit of 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
Skin
The outer layer of an object.
The phone's skin can be customized.
Skin
A thin layer or film on a surface.
A skin formed on the surface of the milk.
Skin
The hide of an animal.
They used the deer's skin to make a rug.
Skin
A person’s natural covering.
He felt the cool breeze against his skin.
Common Curiosities
Is "skinned" always related to injury?
No, "skinned" can refer to both removing skin in cooking and to injury.
What is the primary meaning of "skin"?
The primary meaning of "skin" is the outer covering of a living organism.
What does "skinned alive" mean idiomatically?
"Skinned alive" means to be severely criticized or punished.
Can "skinned" describe an animal?
Yes, it can describe an animal that has had its hide removed.
Is "skin" used in idiomatic expressions?
Yes, such as in "getting under someone's skin."
Can "skin" be a verb?
Yes, "skin" can be a verb meaning to remove the skin from something.
What part of speech is "skin"?
"Skin" is a noun and can also be a verb.
What does "thick skin" mean?
"Thick skin" means being emotionally resilient.
What does "skin care" refer to?
"Skin care" refers to products and routines aimed at maintaining healthy skin.
Is "skinned" used in woodworking?
Yes, it can refer to wood that has had its surface layer removed.
How is "skinned" used in cooking?
"Skinned" refers to removing the outer layer of an ingredient, such as skinned chicken.
What is a metaphorical use of "skin"?
A software application might have a "skin" to change its appearance.
What part of speech is "skinned"?
"Skinned" is an adjective and the past tense of the verb "skin."
What is a skinned knee?
A skinned knee is one that has had its outer layer scraped off due to an injury.
Does "skin" have a plural form?
Yes, "skins," referring to multiple pieces of hide or outer layers.
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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
