Langimage
English

flaky

|flay/ky|

B2

/ˈfleɪ.ki/

(flake)

small pieces

Base FormPlural3rd Person Sing.PastPast ParticiplePresent ParticipleComparativeSuperlative
flakeflakesflakesflakedflakedflakingflakierflakiest
Etymology
Etymology Information

'flaky' originates from the word 'flake', which comes from Old Norse 'flak', meaning 'flat piece'.

Historical Evolution

'flak' transformed into the Middle English word 'flake', and eventually became the modern English word 'flaky'.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'consisting of flakes', but over time it evolved to also mean 'unreliable or eccentric'.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adjective 1

consisting of flakes or tending to flake off.

The paint on the wall was flaky.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Adjective 2

unreliable or eccentric in behavior.

He's a bit flaky when it comes to keeping appointments.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42