ENGLISH
REFERENCE

scaly

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate UK //skˈeɪli// scaly Archaic Vulgar

adj. covered in small, flat pieces of skin that overlap each other. You use this to describe animals like fish or reptiles, or even a dry, flaky skin condition.

adj. covered with small, overlapping plates or scales; having a dry, flaky surface. Often used to describe the integument of fish, reptiles, or amphibians, or a dermatological condition in humans.


SIMPLE

The fish has a shiny, scaly body.

CONTEXTUAL

After swimming in the ocean all day, his skin felt dry and scaly from the saltwater.

COMPLEX

The gecko's scaly skin provides a natural camouflage against the rough, sun-baked rocks of its desert habitat, allowing it to remain hidden from predators.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English scali, skaly. By surface analysis, scale + -y.

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