flesh

1 of 2

noun

ˈflesh 

1

a

: the soft parts of the body of an animal and especially of a vertebrate

especially : the parts composed chiefly of skeletal muscle as distinguished from internal organs, bone, and integument

b

: the condition of having ample fat on the body

cattle in good flesh

c

: skin

2

a

: edible parts of an animal

b

: flesh of a mammal or fowl eaten as food

3

a

: the physical nature of human beings

the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak

—Matthew 26:41 (King James Version)

b

: human nature

4

a

: human beings : humankind

b

: living beings

c

: stock, kindred

5

: a fleshy plant part used as food

also : the fleshy part of a fruit

6

Christian Science : an illusion that matter has sensation

7

: facts or details that provide substance to something

Her careful documentation puts the necessary flesh on much that has been merely speculation …

—John H. Crook

flesh

2 of 2

verb

fleshed; fleshing; fleshes

transitive verb

1

: to initiate or habituate especially by giving a foretaste

2

archaic : gratify

3

a

: to clothe or cover with or as if with flesh

broadly : to give substance to

—usually used with out

flesh out a plan

b

: to make fuller or more nearly complete

—used with out

museums fleshing out their collections with borrowed works

4

: to free from flesh

intransitive verb

: to become fleshy

—often used with up or out

Phrases

in the flesh

: in person and alive

Synonyms

Noun

• meat

Verb

• amplify
• develop
• dilate (on or upon)
• elaborate (on)
• enlarge (on or upon)
• expand

Examples of flesh in a Sentence

Noun

the flabby white flesh of his belly

a disease that causes sores on the flesh

Verb

a lengthy follow-up that fleshes out the original report on the military engagement

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Vultures are large, daytime (diurnal) raptors that primarily feed on the decaying flesh of dead animals, known as carrion. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024

The flesh is dead, but the mind lives on in a character called The Wheel of Fate. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024

Verb

And that's been the luxury of this experience, is doing all the hard work to create the character for the pilot and really flesh her out. —H. Alan Scott, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

Absent palatable options from the Pentagon, the White House may be inclined to develop its own and insist that Mattis and Dunford flesh them out. —Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English flǣsc; akin to Old High German fleisk flesh and perhaps to Old English flēan to flay — more at flay

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing flesh

• a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side
• flesh and blood
• flesh-colored
• flesh-eating
• flesh-eating bacterium
• flesh-eating disease
• flesh fly
• flesh out
• flesh-pressing
• flesh wound
• go the way of all flesh
• make someone's flesh crawl/creep
• make someone's skin/flesh crawl
• make someone's skin/flesh creep
• pound of flesh
• press the flesh
• proud flesh
• the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

Kids Definition

flesh

1 of 2 noun

ˈflesh 

1

a

: the soft parts of the body of an animal and especially the muscular parts

b

: sleek plump condition of body

cattle in good flesh

2

: parts of an animal used as food

3

: the physical being of a person as distinguished from the soul

4

: a fleshy plant part (as the pulp of a fruit)

fleshed

ˈflesht

adjective

flesh

2 of 2 verb

: to make more complete by adding details

flesh out a story

Medical Definition

flesh

noun

ˈflesh 

: the soft parts of the body of an animal and especially of a vertebrate

especially : the parts composed chiefly of skeletal muscle as distinguished from visceral structures, bone, and integuments see goose bumps, proud flesh

fleshed

ˈflesht 

adjective