exfoliate

Meaning

1. To remove the leaves from a plant.
2. To remove a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation.
3. To split into scales, especially to become converted into scales as the result of heat or decomposition.

Synonyms

peel off

flake

scrub

desquamate

peel

hull

husk

laminate

leach

open

open up

pare

pod

shave

shell

🐚

shuck

skim

skin

sprout

strip

flake away

unlock

🔓

skim off

crack

admit

delaminate

decorticate

defoliate

flake off

foliate

Translations

exfoliar

exfoliar

exfoliar-se

abblättern

تفلس

exfolier

sfaldarsi

bladeren

abschälen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɛksˈfoʊlieɪt/

Etymology

Cognate with French: exfolier

In summary

From Late Latin exfoliō (“I strip of leaves”), from ex- (“out of”) + folium (“leaf”); compare effoliate and French exfolier.