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exfoliate
(eks fō′lē āt′)
transitive verb, intransitive verb exfoliated, exfoliating
to cast or come off in flakes, scales, or layers, as skin, bark, rock, etc.
Origin: < LL exfoliatus, pp. of exfoliare, to strip of leaves < L ex-, out + folium, a leaf: see foil
Related Forms:
- exfoliation noun
- exfoliative adjective
See exfoliate in American Heritage Dictionary 4
verb ex·fo·li·at·ed, ex·fo·li·at·ing, ex·fo·li·ates verb, transitive
- To remove (a layer of bark or skin, for example) in flakes or scales; peel.
- To cast off in scales, flakes, or splinters.
To come off or separate into flakes, scales, or layers.
Origin:
Origin: Latin exfoliāre, exfoliāt-, to strip of leaves
Origin: : ex-, ex-
Origin: + folium, leaf; see bhel-3 in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- ex·foˌli·aˈtion noun
- ex·foˈli·aˌtive adjective
- ex·foˈli·aˌtor noun
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