flake

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈflāk 

1

: a small loose mass or bit

flakes of snow

2

: a thin flattened piece or layer : chip

a cereal of wheat flakes

3

slang : cocaine

4

: flake tool

flake

2 of 4

verb

flaked; flaking

transitive verb

1

: to cover with or as if with flakes

2

: to form or break into flakes : chip

intransitive verb

1

: to separate into flakes

Bake the fish until it flakes easily.

also : to peel in flakes

old paint flaking off

2

or flake out informal : to fail or neglect to do or participate in something previously scheduled, agreed upon, or assigned

He'd disappear, then text, disappear, and then text again. So it's not particularly surprising that when we finally made plans to meet he flaked without a word.

—Kerensa Cadenas

My brother isn't the type to flake out without warning.

—D. Morgan Ballmer

—often used with on

To avoid being plan B with your … pal, establish a regular routine that's harder to flake on …

—Laura Gilbert

Let's get him to sign his name to that before he flakes out on you!

—Rhoda Janzen

flake

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a stage, platform, or tray for drying fish or produce

flake

4 of 4

noun (3)

: a person who is flaky : oddball

Synonyms of flake

Noun (1)

• chip
• sliver
• splinter
• fragment

Noun (3)

• eccentric
• character
• nut
• crank
• piece of work
• crack
• fruitcake
• original
• weirdo
• kook
• loon
• crackpot
• nutter
• freak
• wacko
• screwball
• maverick
• loony
• nutcase

Examples of flake in a Sentence

Noun (1)

sprinkle the cake with coconut flakes

Verb

Bake the fish until it flakes easily when tested with a fork.

Noun (3)

the lady with all those cats is sweet, but kind of a flake

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Mix in a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for heat. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2025

Paul loves their flake, Prue loves the balance of coffee and chocolate in one variety, and Paul loves the raspberry, pistachio, and white chocolate (barf) ones. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025

Verb

Redditors report that finishes often flake off, scratch easily, or discolor with regular cleaning. —Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025

There was no needle loss, but there was a lot of flocking that flaked off during the set up—but nothing my robo-vac couldn’t handle! —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English; akin to Old English flacor flying (of arrows), Old Norse flakna to flake off, split

Noun (2)

Middle English flake, fleke hurdle; akin to Middle Dutch vlāke, vlaec hurdle, Old Norse flaki

Noun (3)

perhaps from flake out

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1602, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1623, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1964, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing flake

• flake out
• flake tool

Rhymes for flake

• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• hake
• jake
• lake

Kids Definition

flake

1 of 2 noun

ˈflāk 

: a small thin flat usually loose piece : chip

flake

2 of 2 verb

flaked; flaking

: to form or separate into flakes