Lexic.us

Definition of Exfoliate

1. Verb. Spread by opening the leaves of.

2. Verb. Cast off in scales, laminae, or splinters.

3. Verb. Remove the surface, in scales or laminae.

4. Verb. Come off in a very thin piece.

5. Verb. Grow by producing or unfolding leaves. "Plants exfoliate"

Definition of Exfoliate

1. v. i. To separate and come off in scales or laminæ, as pieces of carious bone or of bark.

2. v. t. To remove scales, laminæ, or splinters from the surface of.

Definition of Exfoliate

1. Verb. To remove the leaves from a plant. ¹

2. Verb. To remove a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Exfoliate

1. [v -ATED, -ATING, -ATES]

Medical Definition of Exfoliate

1. 1. Peeling off in thin layers, shreds, or plates, as the bark of some trees. 2. To shed cells from the skin or from mucous membranes. 3. To fall out, with development, the deciduous teeth exfoliate and permanent teeth erupt into the space. Origin: L. Exfoliatio (08 Jan 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Exfoliate

exeunt exeunted exeunting exeunts exfetation exfiltrate exfiltrated exfiltrates exfiltrating exfiltration

exfiltration operation exfiltrations exflagellation exfoliant exfoliants exfoliate (current term) exfoliated exfoliates exfoliatin exfoliating

exfoliation exfoliation of lens exfoliation syndrome exfoliations exfoliative exfoliative dermatitis exfoliative gastritis exfoliator exfoliators exformation

Literary usage of Exfoliate

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms by Frederic Sturges Allen (1920)
"Referring to plants: exfoliate (tech. ... spec, mew (tech. or archaic), exfoliate. sheep, n. mutton (jocular), ..."

2. Chambers's Encyclopædia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge for the People by Chambers, W. and R., publ (1876)
"... &c., sometimes gives relief. into small, irregular, scale-like pieces, which do noi readily exfoliate, but which, if removed, are speedily reproduced. ..."

3. The Comic Annual by Thomas Hood (1835)
"So let our author, whose enamell'd hopes exfoliate to night such classic tropes, Through this, his tragedy, those laurels share Which Drake and ..."

4. Provincial Medical & Surgical Journal (1841)
"The hardest bones are generally easiest of cure, but this usually depends on exfoliation; they exfoliate sooner than those which are less compact. ..."

5. Catalogue of the Hunterian Collection in the Museum of the Royal College of by Museum, Royal College of Surgeons in London (1830)
"Part of the femur from a case of compound fracture, the cure of which was retarded in consequence of there being a dead portion of bone to exfoliate. ..."

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