I. flake 1 /fleɪk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: From a Scandinavian language; related to Norwegian flak 'disk' ]
1 . a small thin piece that breaks away easily from something else
flake of
flakes of snow
chocolate flakes
⇨ ↑ snowflake
2 . American English informal someone who seems strange or who often forgets things SYN space cadet
II. flake 2 BrE AmE verb
1 . ( also flake off ) [intransitive] to break off in small thin pieces:
The paint is beginning to flake off.
Use a moisturising cream to stop your skin flaking.
2 . [intransitive and transitive] to break fish or another food into small thin pieces, or to break in this way:
Poach the fish until it flakes easily.
Remove the skin and flake the flesh.
flake out phrasal verb informal
1 . British English to fall asleep because you are extremely tired:
Phil’s flaked out on the sofa.
2 . American English to do something strange, or to not do what you said you would do
flake out on
Kathy said she’d help but she flaked out on us.