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Definition of peel verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

     

    peel

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//pil//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they peel
     
    he / she / it peels
     
    past simple peeled
     
    -ing form peeling
     
     
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  1. 1[transitive] peel something to take the skin off fruit, vegetables, etc. to peel an orange/a banana Have you peeled the potatoes? Topic CollocationsCookingpreparing
    • prepare a dish/a meal/a menu/dinner/the fish
    • weigh out 4oz of sugar/the ingredients
    • wash/rinse the lettuce/spinach
    • chop/slice/dice the carrots/onions/potatoes
    • peel the carrots/onion/potatoes/garlic/orange
    • grate a carrot/the cheese/some nutmeg
    • remove/discard the bones/seeds/skin/rind/peel
    • blend/combine/mix (together) the flour and water/all the ingredients
    • beat/whisk the cream/eggs/egg whites
    • knead/shape/roll (out) the dough
    cooking
    • heat the oil in a frying pan
    • preheat/heat the oven/the broiler
    • bring to a boil
    • stir constantly/gently with a wooden spoon
    • reduce the heat
    • simmer gently for 20 minutes/until reduced by half
    • melt the butter/chocolate/cheese
    • dissolve the sugar in water
    • brown the meat for 8-10 minutes
    • drain the pasta/the water from the pot/in a colander/in a strainer
    • mash the potatoes/banana/avocado
    ways of cooking
    • cook food/fish/meat/rice/pasta/a Mexican dish
    • bake (a loaf of) bread/a cake/a pie/potatoes/muffins/cookies/fish
    • boil cabbage/potatoes/an egg/a hot dog/water
    • fry/deep-fry/stir-fry the chicken/vegetables
    • broil meat/steak/chicken/sausages
    • roast potatoes/peppers/meat/chicken/beef
    • sauté garlic/mushrooms/onions/potatoes/vegetables
    • steam rice/vegetables/spinach/asparagus/dumplings
    • toast bread/nuts
    • microwave food/popcorn/a frozen dinner/a TV dinner
    serving
    • serve in a glass/on a bed of rice/with potatoes
    • arrange the slices on a plate/in layers
    • carve the meat/chicken/turkey
    • dress/toss a salad
    • dress with/drizzle with olive oil/vinaigrette
    • top with a slice of lemon/a scoop of ice cream/whipped cream/syrup
    • garnish with a sprig of parsley/fresh basil leaves/lemon wedges/a slice of lime/a twist of orange
    • sprinkle with salt/sugar/herbs/parsley/freshly ground black pepper
  2. 2[transitive, intransitive] peel (something) away/off/back to remove a layer, covering, etc. from the surface of something; to come off the surface of something Carefully peel away the lining paper. The label will peel off if you soak it in water.
  3. 3[intransitive] peel (off) (of a covering) to come off in strips or small pieces The wallpaper was beginning to peel.
  4. 4[intransitive] (of a surface) to lose strips or small pieces of its covering Put on some cream to keep your nose from peeling. The walls have begun to peel.
  5. Idioms
    keep your eyes peeled (for somebody/something)
     
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    to look carefully for someone or something We kept our eyes peeled for any signs of life.
    Phrasal Verbspeel offpeel out
See peel in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary