exfo11ate

i. & t. [Lat. exfoliatus, pa. par. of exfolio to strip off leaves: ez -out, away, and folium a leaf.] A. Intransitive : 1. Min .: To split into scales; to become converted into scales at the surface from heat or decomposi tion. 2. Surg.: To fall or come off in scales, as pieces of carious bone. "Our work went on succe fully, the bone exfoliating from the edges." - Wiseman: Surgery. B. Trans.: To scale; to free from scales or splinters.