- [uncountable]
the soft substance between the skin and bones of animal or human bodies （动物或人的）肉 The trap had cut deeply into the rabbit's flesh. 捕夹深深嵌入了兔子的肉里。 Tigers are flesh-eating animals. 虎是食肉动物。 the smell of rotting flesh 腐肉的气味
Extra ExamplesTopics Foodc1, Bodyc1African hunting dogs will tear at the flesh of their victim until it is weak. 非洲猎狗会撕咬猎物的皮肉，直到猎物变得虚弱不堪。 Babies are born not just as bundles of flesh and bone but with already distinctive personalities. 出生的孩子不仅是血肉组成的躯体，而且已有自己的个性。 Cook the duck until the juices run pale yellow when the flesh is pierced. 把鸭子煮到戳进鸭肉时流出浅黄色的汁为止。 Falcons usually strip the flesh off their prey. 猎鹰通常把捕获的猎物的肉撕下来。 The injury was only a flesh wound and would heal in ten days or so. 这只是皮肉伤，10 天左右就可瘉合了。 The knife cut through flesh and bone. 刀子切开了肉和骨头。 The weapon tore into his flesh. 武器穿进了他的肉里。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- firm
- smooth
- soft
- …
- touch
- cut
- cut into
- …
- crawl
- creep
- wound
- tone
- in the flesh
- flesh and blood
- flesh and bone
- the pleasures of the flesh
- …
- [uncountable]
the skin of the human body （人体的）皮肤 His fingers closed around the soft flesh of her arm. 他握住了她柔软的手臂。 flesh-coloured (= a light brownish pink colour) 肉色的
Extra ExamplesMy flesh tingled as I got out of the ice cold pool. 我从冰冷的水池出来时，全身都有刺痛的感觉。 His shirt was too small for him and cut into the tender flesh at his armpit. 这件衬衣对他来说太小了，紧勒着他腋部的嫩肉。 The tights come in various flesh tones. 连裤袜做成深浅不同的肉色。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- firm
- smooth
- soft
- …
- touch
- cut
- cut into
- …
- crawl
- creep
- wound
- tone
- in the flesh
- flesh and blood
- flesh and bone
- the pleasures of the flesh
- …
- [uncountable]
the soft part of fruit and vegetables, especially when it is eaten 蔬菜的可食部分；果肉 
the sweet flesh of a mango 芒果的果肉 Cut the melon in half and scoop out the flesh. 把瓜切成两半，挖出果肉。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- soft
- sweet
- juicy
- …
- chop
- cut
- scoop
- …
- the flesh[singular] (literary)
the human body when considering its physical and sexual needs, rather than the mind or soul 肉体；肉欲；情欲 the pleasures/sins of the flesh 肌肤之乐；肉欲之罪 His moral sermons always denounced the lusts of the flesh. 他在布道中总是谴责肉慾。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- firm
- smooth
- soft
- …
- touch
- cut
- cut into
- …
- crawl
- creep
- wound
- tone
- in the flesh
- flesh and blood
- flesh and bone
- the pleasures of the flesh
- …
Word OriginOld English flǣsc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vlees and German Fleisch.
Idioms
flesh and blood
your (own) flesh and blood
a person that you are related to 亲骨肉；亲人 You can’t do that to your own flesh and blood! 你不能这样对待自己的骨肉！
go the way of all flesh
to die 长逝；走向人生终点
in the flesh
if you see somebody in the flesh, you are in the same place as them and actually see them rather than just seeing a picture of them 活生生地；亲自；本人 Thousands of fans gathered to see the band in the flesh. 成千上万的歌迷聚集在那里，想亲眼目睹该乐队的丰采。
make your flesh creep
to make you feel afraid or full of horror 使起鸡皮疙瘩；令人毛骨悚然；使人十分厌恶 Just the sight of him makes my flesh creep. 一看到他，我就毛骨悚然。 The story made his flesh creep. 这个故事让他毛骨悚然。
(have, get, want, etc.) your pound of flesh
the full amount that somebody owes you, even if this will cause them trouble or difficulty （不顾别人死活要讨回）应得的东西 You’re determined to have your pound of flesh, aren’t you? 你决心要得到你应得的那一磅肉，是吗？
press (the) flesh
- (informal)
(of a famous person or politician 名人或政治人物 to say hello to people by shaking hands 和群众握手致意
put flesh on (the bones of) something
the spirit is willing (but the flesh is weak)
- (humorous, saying)
you intend to do good things but you are too lazy, weak or busy to actually do them 心灵固然愿意，肉体却软弱；心有余而力不足；力不从心
a thorn in somebody’s flesh/side
a person or thing that repeatedly annoys somebody or stops them from doing something 不断让人烦心的人（或事）；肉中刺；眼中钉