exfoliate

[ eks-foh-lee-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·fo·li·at·ed, ex·fo·li·at·ing.

1. to throw off in scales, splinters, etc.
2. 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.

1. to throw off scales or flakes; peel off in thin fragments:

   The bark of some trees exfoliates.

2. 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.
3. Medicine/Medical. to separate and come off in scales, as scaling skin or any structure separating in flakes.

exfoliate

/ ɛksˈfəʊlɪˌeɪt /

verb

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

   a factory to exfoliate vermiculite

Derived Forms

• exˌfoliˈation, noun
• exˈfoliative, adjective

Other Words From

• ex·fo·li·a·tive [eks-, foh, -lee-ey-tiv, -, uh, -tiv], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exfoliate¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin exfoliātus, past participle of exfoliāre “to strip off leaves”; ex- ¹, foliate

Word History and Origins

Origin of exfoliate¹

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

Example Sentences

Because it’s easy to over-exfoliate at home, some dermatologists prefer in-office treatments, seeing the latter as a controlled burn compared with a wildfire.

From Washington Post

While, again, exfoliating your body isn’t necessary, Hirsh said hands, feet and sometimes arms and legs can benefit from regular exfoliation.

From Washington Post

“Our skin cells naturally exfoliate on their own,” said Chicago-based dermatologist Caroline Robinson.

From Washington Post

When we exfoliate, we use hydroxy acids and enzymes to break the bonds that hold the cells together, which is what we don’t want.

From Washington Post

There is no soil, but those towels are contaminated with dead skin cells that the towel has exfoliated.

From Washington Post

“I enjoy dating beardy blokes because you get to kiss and exfoliate at the same time,” she quips to The Daily Beast.

From The Daily Beast

The loch having been drained away, we proceeded to exfoliate the crannog.

From Project Gutenberg

A layer of the exposed surface of bone will probably exfoliate, and the wound granulate and become closed without further trouble.

From Project Gutenberg