flaky

or flak·ey

[ fley-kee ]
See synonyms for flaky on Thesaurus.com
adjective,flak·i·er, flak·i·est.
  1. of or like flakes.

  2. lying or cleaving off in flakes or layers.

  1. Slang. eccentric; wacky; dizzy: a flaky math professor.

Origin of flaky

1
First recorded in 1570–80; 1965–70 for def. 3; flake1 + -y1; sense of def. 3 probably flake4 + -y1, though influenced by flake1

Other words from flaky

  • flak·i·ly, adverb
  • flak·i·ness, noun
  • non·flak·i·ly, adverb
  • non·flak·i·ly·ness, noun
  • non·flak·y, adjective
  • un·flak·y, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use flaky in a sentence

  • The flakiness of pastry depends upon the kind and amount of shortening used.

    The Story of Crisco | Marion Harris Neil

British Dictionary definitions for flaky

flaky

/ (ˈfleɪkɪ) /


adjectiveflakier or flakiest
  1. like or made of flakes

  2. tending to peel off or break easily into flakes

  1. Also: flakey US slang eccentric; crazy

Derived forms of flaky

  • flakily, adverb
  • flakiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012