exfoliate

[eks-foh-lee-eyt]

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.

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• exfoliative adjective
• exfoliation noun

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

“If you don’t like ‘Crazy,’ there’s something wrong with you,” Lenae says as a pedicurist exfoliates her feet in a West Hollywood hotel room.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For 45 minutes, a “Q-facial” machine sprayed, vacuumed, exfoliated and hydrated my face, delivering ultrasonic waves at two different depths.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I have this silicone exfoliant pad that I will use to fully exfoliate my body.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"I have to undergo a lot of treatment every day, which takes three to five hours and involves bath emollients, creaming and exfoliating," she said.

Read more on BBC

Such exfoliated samples can be quite clean and free from impurities that would otherwise interfere with graphene's desirable properties.

Read more on Science Daily