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desquamate

[ des-kwuh-meyt ]
/ ˈdɛs kwəˌmeɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR desquamate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), des·qua·mat·ed, des·qua·mat·ing. Pathology.

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

Words related to desquamate

dropping

Words nearby desquamate

despot, despotic, despotic monarchy, despotism, despumate, desquamate, desquamation, desquamative, desquamative inflammatory vaginitis, dessalines, dessau

Origin of desquamate

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

OTHER WORDS FROM desquamate

des·qua·ma·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for desquamation

British Dictionary definitions for desquamation

desquamate
/ (ˈdɛskwəˌmeɪt) /

verb

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

Derived forms of desquamate

desquamation, noun

Word Origin for desquamate

C18: from Latin dēsquāmāre to scale off, from de- + squāma a scale
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for desquamation (1 of 2)

desquamation
[ dĕs′kwə-mā′shən ]

n.

The shedding or peeling of the epidermis in scales.
The shedding of the outer layer of a surface.

Medical definitions for desquamation (2 of 2)

desquamate
[ dĕs′kwə-māt′ ]

v.

To shed, peel, or come off in scales. Used of skin.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.