exfoliate

[ eks-foh-lee-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·fo·li·at·ed, ex·fo·li·at·ing.

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)

, ex·fo·li·at·ed, ex·fo·li·at·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• exˈfoliative, adjective
• exˌfoliˈation, noun

Other Words From

• ex·fo·li·a·tive [eks-, foh, -lee-ey-tiv, -, uh, -tiv], adjective

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

I’ll exfoliate and get myself fresh for the week.

From Los Angeles Times

"Out of 119 possible materials, we studied which ones had the chemical stability required and which materials were the best candidates. First, we had to synthesise the 3D material, which was a challenge in itself. Finally, we had a high-quality sample where we could exfoliate and etch away a specific atom layers using hydrofluoric acid," says Jie Zhou, assistant professor at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

From Science Daily

I’ll exfoliate and get myself fresh for the week.

From Los Angeles Times

Products containing salicylic acid also help exfoliate the skin, which promotes turnover of dead skin cells and keeps pores from getting clogged.

From Seattle Times

“You don’t need to exfoliate. Exfoliation happens by itself, it doesn’t need to be helped along.”

From National Geographic