plural flakes
1
: a small, thin piece of something
delicate flakes of snow
white flakes of dandruff
soap flakes
2
chiefly US, informal
: a strange or unusual person : oddball
He's a nice guy but he's a bit of a flake.
flakes; flaked; flaking
1
: to break apart into small, thin pieces
Bake the fish until it flakes easily when tested with a fork.
2
: to form loose, thin pieces that fall off
The old fence was falling apart, and its paint was flaking (off).
Cite this Entry
“Flake.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/flake. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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