See Also: Exfoliate(medicine)
Exfoliate(health)
exfoliate(dictionary)
exfoliate(dictionary)

exfoliate (iou)



exfoliate verb. M17.
[Late Latin exfoliat- pa. ppl stem of exfoliare strip of leaves, from Latin EX-1 1 + folium leaf: see -ATE3.]
verb trans. Cast off, shed, (the cuticle, the surface of a bone, etc.) in the form of thin layers or scales; Surgery remove the surface of (a bone etc.) in this form. M17.
verb intrans. Of bone, skin, a mineral, etc.: separate or come off in thin layers or scales. Of a tree: throw off layers of bark. L17.
verb trans. & intrans. Unfold, develop. E19.
F. C. L. Wraxall Questions exfoliated themselves. New Yorker Taking an active part in the exfoliating New York art scene.
verb trans. & intrans. Remove dead cells from (the skin) with a cosmetic product. L20.
exfoliant noun & adjective (designating) a cosmetic product designed to remove dead cells from the surface of the skin L20.
exfoli'ation noun (a) the action or process of exfoliating; (b) a layer or scale produced by this: L17.
exfoliative noun & adjective (a) noun (rare) something which produces exfoliation; (b) adjective causing or promoting exfoliation; involving or marked by exfoliation: L17.