leathery

/ˈleðəri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈleðəri/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈle-t͟hə-rē ˈlet͟h-rē/ (ame, mw)

leathery — adjective

  • leatherypositive
  • more leatherycomparative
  • most leatherysuperlative

1. describing a surface, food, or skin that is dark, tough, and slightly wrinkled,

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describing a surface, food, or skin that is dark, tough, and slightly wrinkled, with a feel similar to dried animal hide.

例句

Rodrigo bit into the dried mango and complained that it was too leathery to chew.

predicative: be leathery to + infinitive

The old farmer's leathery hands had spent forty years pulling weeds under the sun.

attributive: leathery hands / face / skin (weathered body parts)

同義詞
  • tough

    more general; covers any food or material that resists chewing or tearing

  • rubbery

    tough but flexible and bouncy (overcooked egg, squid) — leathery is drier and stiffer

  • weathered

    for skin only; emphasises long sun and wind exposure rather than the leather-like feel

反義詞
  • tender

    for meat or vegetables that are soft and easy to chew

  • smooth

    for skin that is soft and unwrinkled

用法筆記

Almost always attributive (before a noun): leathery skin, leathery leaves, leathery meat. Carries a negative tone when describing food (tough, hard to chew) but a neutral or rugged tone when describing weathered skin.

常見錯誤

❌The cake was leathery and sweet.
✅The cake was dry and chewy.
💡'leathery' describes a tough, hide-like texture; soft cakes are described as dry or rubbery, not leathery.