exfoliate
verbUS /ɛksˈfoʊlieɪt/ · UK /ɛksˈfəʊlieɪt/
Etymology From Late Latin exfoliō (“to strip of leaves”), from ex- (“out of”) + folium (“leaf”); compare effoliate and French exfolier.
1
To remove the leaves from a plant.
2
To remove a layer of dead skin cells, as in cosmetic preparation.
3
Chemistry, Geography, Geology, Mineralogy, Natural sciences, Physical sciences To split into scales, especially to become converted into scales as the result of heat or decomposition.
- Derived terms
- exfoliable, exfoliant, exfoliatin, exfoliating, exfoliation, exfoliative, exfoliator, foliate, foliation, overexfoliate, unexfoliated