Standard Lemma guide

exfoliation

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • rhymes with -eɪʃən
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: EH0 K S F OW2 L IY0 EY1 SH AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The scaling off of a bone, a rock, or a mineral, etc.; the state of being exfoliated.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The removal of a layer of dead skin, as in cosmetic preparation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: cosmetics, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The loss of leaves from a plant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Qualifier: possible misuse

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: scale, scurf

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bit, chip, flake, fleck, scrap

Narrower terms: dander, dandruff

5

noun

Meaning 5

the peeling off in flakes or scales of bark or dead skin

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • exfoliation is increased by sunburn

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: organic phenomenon

History

Etymology

From Latin exfoliare (to remove leaves).

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: exfoliació — the removal of a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 去角質 /去角质 (qùjiǎozhì, qùjiǎozhí) — the removal of a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation
  • French: exfoliation — the removal of a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation
  • French: peeling — the removal of a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation
  • German: Peeling — the removal of a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation
  • Italian: esfoliazione — the removal of a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation
  • Polish: peeling — the removal of a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation
  • Polish: abrazja — the removal of a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation
  • Portuguese: esfoliação — the removal of a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation
  • Russian: пи́линг (píling) — the removal of a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation
  • Russian: эксфолиа́ция (eksfoliácija) — the removal of a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation
  • Spanish: exfoliación — the removal of a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation