a small, flat, thin piece, esp. one that has been or become detached from a larger piece or mass

flakes of old paint.

any small piece or mass

a flake of snow.

a stratum or layer.

Slang . an eccentric person; screwball.

Slang . cocaine.

a usually broad, often irregular piece of stone struck from a larger core and sometimes retouched to form a flake tool.

to peel off or separate in flakes.

to fall in flakes, as snow.

to remove in flakes.

to break flakes or chips from; break into flakes

to flake fish for a casserole.

to cover with or as if with flakes.

to form into flakes.