Definition

1. Verb:

   • To put or keep out of sight; to conceal from view or knowledge: The primary meaning is to prevent something from being seen or discovered.
   • To keep oneself out of sight; to take refuge or conceal oneself: To go into a place of secrecy for protection or privacy.

2. Noun:

   • The skin of an animal, either raw or dressed: The pelt or skin, especially of a large animal.
   • An old English measure of land: A historical unit of area for assessing land tax, varying in size from 60 to 120 acres.
   • A concealed place used by hunters or observers: A camouflaged shelter for watching wildlife.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • She tried to hide her disappointment with a smile.
  • The cat likes to hide under the bed.
  • He hid the letter in a drawer.
• Noun:
  • The rug was made from a buffalo hide.
  • The photographer waited patiently in the hide.

Advanced Usage

• "To hide one's light under a bushel": To conceal one's talents or good qualities modestly or out of shyness.
  • Don't hide your light under a bushel; let people know about your achievements.
• "Neither hide nor hair": No trace or sign of someone or something.
  • I've seen neither hide nor hair of him all week.

Variants and Related Words

• Hidden (adj): Kept out of sight; concealed.
  • There is a hidden camera in the room.
• Hideaway (n): A place where one can go to be alone or to hide.
  • They have a cozy hideaway in the mountains.
• Hideout (n): A place used for hiding, especially by criminals.
  • The police discovered the gang's hideout.

Synonyms

• Verb: Conceal, secrete, cover, veil, obscure, mask, camouflage.
• Noun: Skin, pelt, leather.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Hide away: To put something in a secret place; to go into seclusion.
  • He hid the documents away in a safe.
  • The writer hid away in a cottage to finish her novel.
• Hide out: To stay hidden, especially to avoid being caught.
  • The fugitives hid out in an abandoned warehouse for months.

Related Idioms

• To save one's (own) hide/skin: To avoid punishment, injury, or an unpleasant situation.
  • He testified against his partners to save his own hide.
• To have a thick hide: To be insensitive to criticism or insults.
  • You need a thick hide to be a politician.

Noun

1. body covering of a living animal
2. the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)

Verb

1. make undecipherable or imperceptible by obscuring or concealing
   • a hidden message
   • a veiled threat
2. cover as if with a shroud
   • The origins of this civilization are shrouded in mystery
3. be or go into hiding; keep out of sight, as for protection and safety
   • Probably his horse would be close to where he was hiding
   • She is hiding out in a cabin in Montana
4. prevent from being seen or discovered
   • Muslim women hide their faces
   • hide the money