exfoliate

[ eks-foh-lee-eyt ]
/ ɛksˈfoʊ liˌeɪt /

verb (used with object), ex·fo·li·at·ed, ex·fo·li·at·ing.

to throw off in scales, splinters, etc.
to remove the surface of (a bone, the skin, etc.) in scales or laminae.

verb (used without object), ex·fo·li·at·ed, ex·fo·li·at·ing.

to throw off scales or flakes; peel off in thin fragments: The bark of some trees exfoliates.
Geology.
  1. to split or swell into a scaly aggregate, as certain minerals when heated.
  2. to separate into rudely concentric layers or sheets, as certain rocks during weathering.
Medicine/Medical. to separate and come off in scales, as scaling skin or any structure separating in flakes.

Origin of exfoliate

1605–15; < Late Latin exfoliātus past participle of exfoliāre to strip off leaves. See ex-1, foliate

OTHER WORDS FROM exfoliate

ex·fo·li·a·tive [eks-foh-lee-ey-tiv, -uh-tiv] /ɛksˈfoʊ liˌeɪ tɪv, -ə tɪv/, adjective

Words nearby exfoliate

exeter, exeunt, exeunt omnes, exfiltrate, exfoliant, exfoliate, exfoliation, exfoliative, exfoliative cytology, exfoliative dermatitis, exfoliative gastritis

British Dictionary definitions for exfoliative

exfoliate
/ (ɛksˈfəʊlɪˌeɪt) /

verb

(tr) to wash (a part of the body) with a granular cosmetic preparation in order to remove dead cells from the skin's surface
(of bark, skin, etc) to peel off in (layers, flakes, or scales)
(intr) (of rocks or minerals) to shed the thin outermost layer because of weathering or heating
(of some minerals, esp mica) to split or cause to split into thin flakes a factory to exfoliate vermiculite

Derived forms of exfoliate

exfoliation, noun exfoliative, adjective

Word Origin for exfoliate

C17: from Late Latin exfoliāre to strip off leaves, from Latin folium leaf

Medical definitions for exfoliative

exfoliative
[ ĕks-fō′lē-ā′tĭv ]

adj.

Marked by exfoliation, desquamation, or profuse scaling.