flaky

views updated May 14 2018

flak·y / ˈflākē/ (also flak·ey) • adj. (flak·i·er, flakiest) 1. breaking or separating easily into small thin pieces: a tree with flaky bark. ∎  (esp. of skin or paint) tending to crack and come away from a surface in small pieces: the skin on the shins is often very flaky and dry.2. inf. crazy or eccentric: flaky ideas about taxes. ∎ inf. (of a device or software) prone to break down; unreliable.DERIVATIVES: flak·i·ness / -kēnis/ n.flak·i·ly / -kəlē/ adv.