flake
flake Lexical Profile
flake Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small, flat, very thin piece of something, typically one which has broken away or been peeled off from a larger piece.
"She gently brushed a flake of dried paint from her sleeve."
An unreliable person; someone who frequently fails to keep appointments, commitments, or promises.
"I wouldn't rely on him to organize the event, as he can be a bit of a flake."
• verb
To come off or separate into small, flat, thin pieces or layers.
"The old plaster on the ceiling had started to flake due to the moisture."
American To fail to keep a commitment, promise, or appointment (often used with 'out' or 'on').
"He promised to help me move the furniture, but he flaked on me at the last minute."
Word Nuance & Usage
While technically referring to a small, thin piece of material, 'flake' is frequently used in informal English to describe an unreliable person who cancels plans at the last minute.
• Rhymes for flake
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'flake', likely of Scandinavian origin, related to Old Norse 'flak' (a flat piece) and sharing a Germanic root with the word 'flay'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.