OXFORD DICTIONARY
, v.intr.
1 (of bone, the skin, a mineral, etc.) come off in scales or layers.
2 (of a tree) throw off layers of bark.
exfoliation n. exfoliative adj.
LL exfoliare exfoliat- (as EX-(1), folium leaf)
THESAURUS
arrange in layers, breach, break, burst, bust, check, chip, crack, delaminate, desquamate, fissure, flake, flake off, fracture, laminate, lay down, lay up, layer, peel, rupture, scale, scale off, snap, split, stratify
ROGET THESAURUS
Divestment
VB
divest, uncover &c (cover), denude, bare, strip, disfurnish, undress, disrobe &c (dress, enrobe), uncoif, dismantle, put off, take off, cast off, doff, peel, pare, decorticate, excoriate, skin, scalp, flay, expose, lay open,
exfoliate, molt, mew, cast the skin.