flake

Everyday

1. A small, thin, flat piece of something, like a snowflake or a flake of paint. tree →
2. (verb) To come off in small thin pieces: «The paint is flaking». tree →
3. (verb) To break cooked fish or food into small pieces. tree →
4. (informal noun) A person who often forgets or breaks plans. tree →
5. (informal verb, flake out / flake on) To not do what you promised, or to fall asleep from tiredness. tree →

In the lessons

In science: snowflakes are ice crystals, and every one is a six-sided shape. In everyday life: cornflakes, chocolate flakes, flakes of dry skin, peeling paint. Informal: «Don't flake on me!» means «Don't let me down». Phrases: «snowflake», «cornflakes», «paint flakes off», «flake out».

Examples

• A snowflake landed on my glove. tree →
• The old paint on the fence is flaking off. tree →
• I had a bowl of cornflakes for breakfast. tree →
• Flake the cooked fish with a fork. tree →
• Dry skin can come off in tiny flakes. tree →
• He said he would come but he flaked at the last minute. tree →
• After the long hike, I flaked out on the sofa. tree →
• We put a chocolate flake in the ice cream. tree →
• The snow-flakes grew larger and larger, till at last they looked just like great white fowls. tree →

Note

Verb: flake, flaked, flaking (drop e). Calling a person «a flake» is informal and a bit rude. Myth: «no two snowflakes are alike» is very likely true for big ones, but nobody can check every flake.

In Jewish tradition

In Job the flakes of flesh describe the Leviathan, a mighty sea creature. Tradition reads it as a sign of God's power in creation. In the primary lessons: In science: snowflakes are ice crystals, and every one is a six-sided shape. In everyday life: cornflakes, chocolate flakes, flakes of dry skin, peeling paint. Informal: «Don't flake on me!» means «Don't let me down». Phrases: «snowflake», «cornflakes», «paint flakes off», «flake out».

Examples

• The flakes of his flesh are joined together; they are firm upon him; they cannot be moved. (Writings JOB.41.15, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Verb: flake, flaked, flaking (drop e). Calling a person «a flake» is informal and a bit rude. Myth: «no two snowflakes are alike» is very likely true for big ones, but nobody can check every flake.