desquamate

[des-kwuh-meyt]

verb (used without object)

Pathology.

desquamated, desquamating 

1. to come off in scales, as the skin in certain diseases; peel off.

desquamate

/ ˈdɛskwəˌmeɪt /

verb

1. (intr) (esp of the skin in certain diseases) to peel or come off in scales

Other Word Forms

• desquamation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of desquamate¹

First recorded in 1720–30, desquamate is from the Latin word dēsquāmātus (past participle of dēsquāmāre to remove scales from). See de-, squamate

Word History and Origins

Origin of desquamate¹

C18: from Latin dēsquāmāre to scale off, from _de- + squāma a scale

Example Sentences

A microscopic examination of cholera stools shows that their turbidness depends chiefly upon desquamated epithelium, with which is mixed white corpuscles and bacteria.

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She considered herself now well, but still her skin was flabby, especially on the hands where the epidermis often desquamated, and the nails remained hard, brittle and without lustre.

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The exterior of the nose, especially at the tip, became intensely red and toward the close of the attack the cuticle desquamated.

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Cases of the evacuation of desquamated patches of diphtheritic membrane from the intestinal mucosa 6 to 9 feet in length have been reported.

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The margins of the pustules, before of a distinct red, now assume a bluish-red or purplish colour, and the skin begins to desquamate.

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Related Words

• exfoliate 
• sliver