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”; ex- ¹, foliate

Example Sentences

Add a small bit of water to the mineral-packed blend of volcanic green clay, Dead Sea salt, kelp and spirulina to exfoliate, soothe and hydrate the skin.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2022

These are like facial masks for your feet, and many make lofty promises to remove calluses, exfoliate your skin and make your feet feel smoother and softer.

From Washington Post • Jan. 19, 2022

“The body treatment is especially nice because you’re able to exfoliate away a lot of the summer grime and get your skin ready for the fall season,” Holm explains.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 29, 2021

Wait three minutes — take the time to shave, exfoliate, sing, whatever floats your boat — and then rinse it out and voila!

From Slate • Feb. 11, 2019

They exfoliate or come off in leaves; all these effects belong, I believe, to the great class of phenomena of which slaty cleavage forms the most prominent example.

From Fragments of science, V. 1-2 by Tyndall, John