exfoliate

American  

[eks-foh-lee-eyt] / ɛksˈfoʊ liˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

exfoliated, exfoliating

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

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

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verb (used without object)

exfoliated, exfoliating

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 British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• exfoliation
  noun
• exfoliative
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of exfoliate

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

Example Sentences

Exfoliate, moisturise and SPF every day are the standard in most people's skincare routine.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2022

Exfoliate, eks-fō′li-āt, v.i. and v.t. to come off, or send off, in scales.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various