desquamate

(deskwə māt′, di skwā-)

intransitive verb desquamated, desquamating

to fall off in scales; peel off: said esp. of the top layer of skin or mucous membrane

Origin: < L desquamatus, pp. of desquamare, to scale off < de-, off + squama, a scale, squama

Related Forms:

See desquamate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intransitive verb des·qua·mat·ed, des·qua·mat·ing, des·qua·mates
To shed, peel, or come off in scales. Used of skin.

Origin:

Origin: Latin dēsquāmāre, dēsquāmāt-

Origin: : dē-, de-

Origin: + squāma, scale

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Related Forms:

  • desˌqua·maˈtion noun

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