ex·fo·li·ate (ěks-fō'lē-āt') v.
ex·fo·li·at·ed, ex·fo·li·at·ing, ex·fo·li·ates
v.
tr.
To remove (a layer of bark or skin, for example) in flakes or scales; peel.
To cast off in scales, flakes, or splinters.
v.
intr. To come off or separate into flakes, scales, or layers.
[Latin exfoliāre, exfoliāt-, to strip of leaves : ex-, ex- + folium, leaf; see bhel-3 in Indo-European roots.] ex·fo'li·a'tion n., ex·fo'li·a'tive adj., ex·fo'li·a'tor n.