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- DictionaryFlay/flā/
verb
- 1. peel the skin off (a corpse or carcass): "one shoulder had been flayed to reveal the muscles"
It means to peel or beat the skin of a person or animal, and not necessarily a dead one, either. Nowadays it more commonly means to criticize harshly someone or something, usually in public, leaving them raw and wounded. To be flayed alive was a common punishment in ancient times for political enemies or traitors.
Word Origin. See flay in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Check pronunciation: flay. Definition of flay verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
3 days ago · 1. to strip off the skin or outer covering of, esp by whipping; skin. 2. to attack with savage criticism. 3. to strip of money or goods, esp by cheating or extortion. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. Derived forms. flayer (ˈflayer) noun. Word origin.
1. to strip off the skin or outer covering of, esp by whipping; skin. 2. to attack with savage criticism. 3. to strip of money or goods, esp by cheating or extortion. [Old English flēan; related to Old Norse flā to peel, Lithuanian plešti to tear] ˈflayer n.
Flay Definition. flā. flayed, flaying, flays. Meanings. Synonyms. Sentences. Definition Source. Origin. Verb. Noun. Filter. verb. To strip off the skin or hide of, as by whipping. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. To strip of money or goods; fleece. American Heritage. To criticize or scold mercilessly. Webster's New World.
verb. /fleɪ/ Verb Forms. flay something/somebody to remove the skin from an animal or person, usually when they are dead. Join us. Join our community to access the latest language learning and assessment tips from Oxford University Press! flay somebody to hit or whip someone very hard so that some of their skin comes off.
FLAY meaning: to beat or whip (someone or something) in a very violent and severe way usually used figuratively.
