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Belly Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Question about oxford dictionary
In my dictionary (Oxford), it says the word can be used as both uncount noun (uncount noun is a real word, as Oxford says). Here is what exactly it says about the first meaning of skin:
[U, C] the layer of tissue that covers the body:
to have dark / fair / olive, etc. skin Ç The snake sheds its skin once a year. Ç cosmetics for sensitive skins Ç skin cancer
Can you see [U,C] symbol? I don't know whether it indicates the word can be used in both way or it depends on the context meaning. If it depends on the context meaning, I wonder which meaning will fit each case. The definition here is too ambiguous, too vague indeed (Another question: Can we add indeed after too?)
Top answer
" How would you define skin ? What is ambiguous about the definition? It is impossible to even try to include in a dictionary all possible ways to use a word.
- " How would you define skin ?
- What is ambiguous about the definition?
- It is impossible to even try to include in a dictionary all possible ways to use a word.
- The resultant books would have to be loaded on a truck to be delivered to you and you would need a large room for the dictionary in your home.
- And, alas, the dictionary would still be incomplete.
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5 Answers
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Hi Belly
The definition looks good to me: "the layer of tissue that covers the body." How would you define skin? What is ambiguous about the definition? It is impossible to even try to include in a dictionary all possible ways to use a word. The resultant books would have to be loaded on a truck to be delivered to you and you would need a large room for the dictionary in your home
The definition looks good to me: "the layer of tissue that covers the body." How would you define skin? What is ambiguous about the definition? It is impossible to even try to include in a dictionary all possible ways to use a word. The resultant books would have to be loaded on a truck to be delivered to you and you would need a large room for the dictionary in your home
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Hm... So when to use it as an uncount and a count noun because I don't know whether the two usage fits for one meaning and when to use which
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A man who makes a fur coat uses lots of skins.
The skins of mammals are often covered with coatings of hair, some of which are short and some of which are long..
You have one skin.
A hot drink can develop a skin on its surface as it cools.
A person's skin is burned if the sun is too hot.
The skins of mammals are often covered with coatings of hair, some of which are short and some of which are long..
You have one skin.
A hot drink can develop a skin on its surface as it cools.
A person's skin is burned if the sun is too hot.
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Feebs11A man who makes a fur coat uses lots of skins.So people do not share th
The skins of mammals are often covered with coatings of hair, some of which are short and some of which are long..
You have one skin.
A hot drink can develop a skin on its surface as it cools.
A person's skin is burned if the sun is too hot.
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All people have skin.
Each person has a skin of his or her own.
People's skins can be light or dark in hue, ranging from palest pink to almost black.
Each person has a skin of his or her own.
People's skins can be light or dark in hue, ranging from palest pink to almost black.
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