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.

Skin vs. Skinned — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Skin and Skinned

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.

"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 Rehman

Tayyaba 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.