exfoliate

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: ex=fo=li=ate

CIDE DICTIONARY

exfoliate, v. i. [L. exfoliare to strip of leaves; ex out, from + folium leaf.].

•  To separate and come off in scales or laminæ, as pieces of carious bone or of bark.  [1913 Webster]
•  To split into scales, especially to become converted into scales at the result of heat or decomposition.  [1913 Webster]

exfoliate, v. t. 

 To remove scales, laminæ, or splinters from the surface of.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

exfoliate, v.intr.
1 (of bone, the skin, a mineral, etc.) come off in scales or layers.
2 (of a tree) throw off layers of bark.

Derivative

exfoliation n. exfoliative adj.

Etymology

LL exfoliare exfoliat- (as EX-(1), folium leaf)

THESAURUS

exfoliate

arrange in layers, breach, break, burst, bust, check, chip, crack, delaminate, desquamate, fissure, flake, flake off, fracture, laminate, lay down, lay up, layer, peel, rupture, scale, scale off, snap, split, stratify

ROGET THESAURUS

exfoliate

Divestment

VB divest, uncover &c (cover), denude, bare, strip, disfurnish, undress, disrobe &c (dress, enrobe), uncoif, dismantle, put off, take off, cast off, doff, peel, pare, decorticate, excoriate, skin, scalp, flay, expose, lay open, exfoliate, molt, mew, cast the skin.