flake off

Học thuật
Thân thiện
flake off

The old paint on the windowsill is starting to flake off.

Definition
  1. Verb (intransitive):
    • To separate or detach from a surface in the form of thin, small, flat pieces or scales.
    • To come off in layers or small fragments, often due to age, wear, or poor adhesion.
Usage
  • This verb describes the process where a material (like paint, skin, or rust) detaches from the surface it was attached to. It is typically used for thin, layered materials.
  • It is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object. The thing that is flaking off is the subject of the sentence.
  • It often implies a gradual or ongoing process of deterioration or detachment.
Examples
  • Verb:
    • The old paint on the window sill has started to flake off.
    • If you have sunburn, your skin might flake off after a few days.
    • The rust is flaking off the metal gate, exposing the raw steel beneath.
Advanced Usage
  • "to flake off (of something)": While "flake off" is intransitive, it can be followed by a prepositional phrase beginning with "of" or "from" to indicate the source surface.
    • Plaster was flaking off the ceiling.
    • Gold leaf was flaking off from the picture frame.
Variants and Related Words
  • Flake (verb): To come off or cause to come off in flakes. (e.g., )
  • Peel off (verb): A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "flake off," especially for materials like paint or skin.
  • Chip off (verb): To break off in small pieces, often implying a harder material (like china or stone) than what typically "flakes off."
  • Desquamate (verb): A formal, technical term, primarily used in medicine and biology for skin flaking off.
Synonyms
  • Peel off
  • Chip away
  • Scale off
  • Exfoliate (specifically for skin)
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Flake away: Similar to "flake off," emphasizing the gradual removal of material.
    • The ancient manuscript was so dry that the ink was flaking away.
Related Idioms
  • (No common idioms are directly formed from "flake off." The term is used in its literal sense.)
flake off

The old paint on the windowsill is starting to flake off.

Verb
  1. come off in flakes or thin small pieces
    • The paint in my house is peeling off

Từ đồng nghĩa

Từ gần giống