1. Skin: This is the most common meaning of "balato" and refers to the outer layer of an organism's body.
2. Hide: This meaning refers to the tanned skin of an animal, often used for making leather goods.
The context of the word will determine which meaning is intended. For example:
* "Ang balato ng tao ay malambot." (The human skin is soft.)
* "Ginagamit ang balato ng baka para gumawa ng sapatos." (Cowhide is used to make shoes.)
In some cases, "balato" might also be used in a figurative sense to refer to someone's outer appearance or their "mask."
It's important to note that "balato" is not a very common word in modern Tagalog. More common words for "skin" are "balat" and "katawan," while "katad" is more frequently used for "hide."