# flake

/ˈfɫeɪk/ (US) · /flˈeɪk/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flake
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a small, thin piece of something that has broken off a larger surface. You often see these when paint or skin peels away.

For teachers: a small, thin, flattened piece or layer of a substance, typically one that has peeled or broken away from a larger mass.

## Examples

- The old paint fell off the wall in a large flake.
- After spending all day at the beach without sunscreen, he noticed a small flake of skin peeling from his shoulder.
- The restorer carefully removed each loose flake of pigment from the canvas before applying a fresh layer of protective varnish to the centuries-old portrait.

## Usage notes

- Often used with 'of' to specify the material, such as 'a flake of snow' or 'flakes of rust'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.