Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small, thin, flat piece or fragment that has broken or peeled off from a larger object: A "flake" is a small, thin piece that separates from a surface, often due to wear, dryness, or impact.
   • A small, flat crystal of snow; a snowflake: A "flake" can refer to a single, delicate crystal of frozen water that falls as snow.
   • A person regarded as eccentric, unreliable, or unconventional (informal): In informal usage, a "flake" describes someone who is odd, forgetful, or who often fails to follow through on commitments.

2. Verb:

   • To come off or separate in small, thin, flat pieces: To "flake" means to peel or chip away from a surface in small layers.
   • To cover or become covered with or as if with flakes: To "flake" can mean to form or deposit a layer of small, flat pieces.
   • To form into flakes: To "flake" means to break or separate into a flaky texture or consistency.

Examples

• Noun:

  • I found a flake of paint on the floor beneath the old window.
  • A single, perfect flake landed on her glove.
  • Don't rely on him to be on time; he's a bit of a flake.

• Verb:

  • The old plaster on the ceiling has started to flake.
  • Chocolate began to flake the surface of the cake.
  • The dried clay flaked into dust when touched.

Advanced Usage

• "flake on (someone)" (informal phrasal verb): To fail to meet or accompany someone as promised; to be unreliable.

  • She said she'd help me move, but she flaked on me at the last minute.

• "flake out" (informal phrasal verb): To fall asleep from exhaustion, or to act in a strange or irrational way.

  • After the long hike, I just flaked out on the couch.
  • He completely flaked out during the meeting and started talking nonsense.

Variants and Related Words

• Flaky (adjective): Tending to break or separate into small, thin layers; or, (informally) behaving in an eccentric, unreliable manner.

  • This pastry is delicious but very flaky.
  • Her flaky friend is always canceling plans.

• Snowflake (noun): A single crystal of snow. (Note: This is a compound word containing "flake").

Synonyms

• Noun (fragment): Chip, scale, sliver, shaving, fragment.
• Noun (snow): Snow crystal.
• Noun (person): Eccentric, oddball, scatterbrain (informal).
• Verb: Peel, chip, scale, desquamate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Flake off: To detach in flakes.
  • The rust is flaking off the old bicycle frame.

Related Idioms

• "flake of hope": A very small or fragile amount of hope (a metaphorical use).
  • He clung to the last flake of hope that she would return.

Noun

1. a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
   • a bit of rock caught him in the eye
2. a person with an unusual or odd personality
3. a crystal of snow

Verb

1. come off in flakes or thin small pieces
   • The paint in my house is peeling off
2. cover with flakes or as if with flakes
3. form into flakes
   • The substances started to flake