Library / English Dictionary

EXFOLIATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Grow by producing or unfolding leaves

Example:

plants exfoliate

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "exfoliate" is one way to...):

grow (increase in size by natural process)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Come off in a very thin piece

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "exfoliate" is one way to...):

break away; break off; chip; chip off; come off (break off (a piece from a whole))

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

exfoliation (a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin)

exfoliation (the peeling off in flakes or scales of bark or dead skin)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Remove the surface, in scales or laminae

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "exfoliate" is one way to...):

peel off (peel off the outer layer of something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

exfoliation (a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin)

exfoliation (the peeling off in flakes or scales of bark or dead skin)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Cast off in scales, laminae, or splinters

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "exfoliate" is one way to...):

cast; cast off; drop; shake off; shed; throw; throw away; throw off (get rid of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

exfoliation (a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin)

exfoliation (the peeling off in flakes or scales of bark or dead skin)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Spread by opening the leaves of

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "exfoliate" is one way to...):

open; spread; spread out; unfold (spread out or open from a closed or folded state)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Credits