noun Uncommon

flake

flayk

Flake (noun) means a small, thin, flat piece that has broken off something larger. Example: “A flake of paint peeled off the old fence.”

noun

A small, thin, flat piece that has broken off something larger.

"A flake of paint peeled off the old fence."

"Snowflakes drifted past the window."

An unreliable person who often cancels plans or fails to follow through.

"He's such a flake — he's cancelled on us three times this month."

verb

To back out of plans or fail to follow through on a commitment.

"She flaked on dinner again last night."

To break off in small thin pieces.

"The old paint began to flake off the wall."

How to use flake

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small chip or piece breaking off something, or (informally) someone who bails on plans.

When to use it

The "unreliable person" sense of flake and the verb "to flake (on someone)" are informal/slang.

Common pairings

flake off flake on someone a flake of paint

Word forms

flaked past tense, flakes plural, Flakes plural, flakes singular

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A _____ of paint peeled off the old fence.

Etymology

From Old English/Old Norse roots meaning a loose or torn-off piece, ultimately from a very old word for something flat; the "unreliable person" sense is a modern slang extension.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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bit chip peel scrap geek eccentric fleck oddball snowflake peel off flake off eccentric person

Related words

while part look bit character piece minute fan

Rhymes for flake

ake take make rake wake cake lake sake bake fake jake Dake

See all rhymes for flake →

Frequently asked questions

What does “flake” mean?

The word “flake” means a small, thin, flat piece that has broken off something larger. In plain terms, a small chip or piece breaking off something, or (informally) someone who bails on plans.

How do you pronounce “flake”?

“Flake” is pronounced flayk (/fleɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “flake” in a sentence?

Here is “flake” used in a sentence: “A flake of paint peeled off the old fence.”

What part of speech is “flake”?

Depending on how it is used, “flake” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “flake” come from?

The word “flake” comes from Old English. From Old English/Old Norse roots meaning a loose or torn-off piece, ultimately from a very old word for something flat; the "unreliable person" sense is a modern slang extension.

Is “flake” a common word?

“Flake” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “flake” have?

“Flake” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, thin, flat piece that has broken off something larger.

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