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flake1 definition

flake (flāk)

noun

  1. a small, thin mass a flake of snow
  2. a thin piece or layer split off or peeled off from anything; chip
  3. ☆ Slang an eccentric, unbalanced, or irrational person

Etymology: ME < Scand, as in Norw flak, ice floe, ON flakna, to flake off < IE *plāg, flat < base *plā- > plain

transitive verb, intransitive verb flaked, flaking flak′·ing

  1. to form into flakes
  2. to chip or peel off in flakes
  3. to make or become spotted with flakes

Related Forms:

flake2 definition

flake (flāk)

noun

a platform or rack for storing or drying food

Etymology: ME flake, fleke < ON flaki, fleki, hurdle < IE base *pel-, to cover > fell

flake3 definition

flake (flāk)

transitive verb flaked, flaking flak′·ing

fake

Etymology: prob. specialized use of flake

flake Idioms

flake out

Slang
  1. to fall asleep
  2. to faint

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

flake Synonyms

flake

n.

scale, cell, sheet, wafer, peel, skin, slice, chip, sliver, membrane, lamina, layer, sheet, leaf, shaving, pellicle, foil, plate, lamella, drop, section, scab.


flake

v.

scale, peel, sliver, shed, drop, chip, exfoliate, scab, slice, pare, trim, wear away, desquamate.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

flake Usage Examples

Object

  • tuna: Flake the tuna into fairly large chunks and scatter these around the edge.

Converse of object

  • retouch: An unburnt retouched flint flake was recovered which may have accompanied the burial.

Adjective modifier

  • undercut: From the undercut flake toward the right hand side.

Modifies a noun

  • belay: The 9m Fourth Pitch follows almost immediately with a useful flake belay to keep the ladder out of the line of the water.

Noun used with modifier

  • flint: In 2002 they found a flint flake - an undisputed artifact.

Preposition: of

  • snow: Half way up, a few flakes of snow began to fall.
flake usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"flake." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/flake>

APA Style

flake. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/flake

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