peeling: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2neutral
Quick answer
What does “peeling” mean?
A thin piece of outer skin or rind that has been removed from a fruit, vegetable, or surface.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thin piece of outer skin or rind that has been removed from a fruit, vegetable, or surface.
The process or result of something coming off in thin strips or layers, often from a surface or from skin.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling variations in related words (peel vs. peel). 'Peelings' (plural noun) is more common in British English for vegetable waste. In US English, 'peels' is equally common for fruit/vegetable skins.
Connotations
Largely identical. In culinary contexts, both refer to removed skins.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English in the plural noun form 'potato peelings'.
Grammar
How to Use “peeling” in a Sentence
[noun] + is/are peeling + (off)[verb] + peeling + (from/off + [surface])[adjective] + peeling + [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “peeling” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Be careful, the old paint is peeling from the window frame.
- She was peeling potatoes for the stew.
American English
- The decal is starting to peel off the laptop.
- He peeled the orange and ate the segments.
adverb
British English
- N/A (Peeling is not standardly used as an adverb.)
American English
- N/A (Peeling is not standardly used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- We repaired the peeling paintwork on the front door.
- She had peeling skin after her holiday in Spain.
American English
- They replaced the peeling linoleum in the kitchen.
- Avoid using harsh soap on peeling sunburn.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could refer to the failure of a product's coating (e.g., 'The phone's finish is peeling').
Academic
Used in biology (skin cell turnover), materials science (degradation of coatings), culinary arts.
Everyday
Very common for cooking (food preparation) and describing damaged surfaces or sunburn.
Technical
In dermatology (desquamation), painting/decorating (paint failure), manufacturing (laminate failure).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “peeling”
- Incorrect: 'My skin is peel.' Correct: 'My skin is peeling.' / 'I have a peel.' Correct: 'I have a peeling.' (as noun)
- Confusing 'peeling' (process/skin) with 'feeling'.
- Using 'peelings' as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'some peeling' vs. 'some peelings').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a noun, it refers to the piece of skin/rind (e.g., 'apple peelings'). As a verb (in the -ing form), it describes the action (e.g., 'She is peeling apples').
'Peel' is the base verb or the singular noun for the skin itself (e.g., 'a banana peel'). 'Peeling' is the present participle/gerund or a noun (often plural) for the pieces of skin removed (e.g., 'potato peelings').
Yes, it's commonly used for skin shedding due to sunburn, dryness, or certain medical conditions (e.g., 'My skin is peeling after the peel treatment').
Use it as a plural, countable noun, typically for accumulated bits of skin/rind from food preparation. E.g., 'Collect the carrot peelings for the food waste bin.'
A thin piece of outer skin or rind that has been removed from a fruit, vegetable, or surface.
Peeling is usually neutral in register.
Peeling: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpiːlɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpilɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Peeling the onion (investigating layers of a complex issue)”
- “Keep your eyes peeled (stay alert).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PEELING banana – the long 'EE' sound in both words, and the skin comes off in strips.
Conceptual Metaphor
REVEALING BY REMOVING LAYERS (e.g., peeling back the layers of a mystery).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'peeling' LEAST likely to be used?