definitions

flake

1
[ fleyk ]
/ fleɪk /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR flake ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used without object), flaked, flak·ing.

to peel off or separate in flakes.
to fall in flakes, as snow.

verb (used with object), flaked, flak·ing.

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RELATED WORDS

leaf, exfoliate, sliver, plate, layer, slice, sheet, wafer, section, skin, disk, lamina, cell, foil, membrane, drop, pellicle, lamella, scab, shaving

Nearby words

flail joint, flair, flak, flak jacket, flak suit, flake, flake out, flake tool, flake white, flakeboard, flakelet

Origin of flake

1
1350–1400; (noun) Middle English; akin to Old English flac- in flacox flying (said of arrows), Old Norse flakka to rove, wander, Middle Dutch vlacken to flutter; (in def 4) by back formation from flaky, in sense “eccentric, odd”; (v.) late Middle English: to fall in flakes, derivative of the noun
Related formsflake·less, adjectiveflak·er, noun

Definition for flake (2 of 4)

flake

2
[ fleyk ]
/ fleɪk /

noun

a frame, as for drying fish.

Origin of flake

2
1300–50; Middle English flake, fleke < Old Norse flaki, fleki bridge, hurdle

Definition for flake (3 of 4)

flake

3
[ fleyk ]
/ fleɪk /
Nautical

noun

fake2(defs 2, 3).

verb (used with object), flaked, flak·ing.

fake2(def 1).
to lower (a fore-and-aft sail) so as to drape the sail equally on both sides over its boom.

Origin of flake

3
First recorded in 1620–30; apparently variant of fake2

Definition for flake (4 of 4)

flake

4
[ fleyk ]
/ fleɪk /

verb, flaked, flak·ing.

flake out, Slang. to fall asleep; take a nap.

Origin of flake

4
1935–40; perhaps expressive variant of flag3; compare British dialect flack to hang loosely, flap
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for flake

British Dictionary definitions for flake (1 of 4)

flake

1
/ (fleɪk) /

noun

verb

Derived Formsflaker, noun

Word Origin for flake

C14: of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian flak disc, Middle Dutch vlacken to flutter

British Dictionary definitions for flake (2 of 4)

flake

2
/ (fleɪk) /

noun

a rack or platform for drying fish or other produce

Word Origin for flake

C14: from Old Norse flaki; related to Dutch vlaak hurdle

British Dictionary definitions for flake (3 of 4)

flake

3
/ (fleɪk) /

verb

nautical another word for fake 1

British Dictionary definitions for flake (4 of 4)

flake

4
/ (fleɪk) /

noun

(in Australia) the commercial name for the meat of the gummy shark
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

Science definitions for flake

flake

[ flāk ]

A relatively thin, sharp-edged stone fragment removed from a core or from another flake by striking or prying, serving as a tool or blade itself or as a blank for making other tools. See more at flake tool.
A small, symmetrical, six-sided crystal of snow. Flakes can be large or small and wet or dry, depending on weather conditions. They are white in color because of their large number of reflecting surfaces.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.