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to sluff

to sluff

9.9
To shed an old outer layer of skin or feathers when an animal grows
  • verb
  • /slʌf/
  • Specialized
translation icon : desprenderse
  • As part of their natural growth, snakes slough their skin to allow for greater size.

The gut lining sloughs off, the tumor shrinks or even disappears from an MRI or an X-ray.

Examples

  • You'll probably be amazed to see how much dead skin sloughs off from this process and how smooth and soft your skin will feel after your shower.

  • They're lining the surface of the gut and they are constantly being sloughed off the wall of the gut.

  • Their skin cells Slough off and mixed with other substances, including sweat.

  • Normal attrition, skin cells Slough off the lining of the digestive tract.

  • The gut lining sloughs off, the tumor shrinks or even disappears from an MRI or an X-ray.

  • During the winter, you can see how the deer sloughs off its old fur to make way for a warmer coat.

  • After applying the exfoliating scrub, you might notice how much dead skin sloughs off in the shower.

Synonyms

to shed
vsto sluff
68 3.5

To lose hair, skin or feathers naturally as they grow

also applies to shedding dead outer coverings beyond animals
to molt
vsto sluff
  • Specialized
8 6.1

To shed old feathers, skin, hair, or shell so new ones can grow

is broader and also covers shedding dead outer layers generally
to slough off
vsto sluff
  • Specialized
1 9.0

To come away from living tissue, for example dead skin leaving a wound

focuses on natural renewal rather than pathological tissue loss
to exuviate
vsto sluff
  • Specialized
9.9

To shed old skin, feathers, or hair when an animal grows

has identical sense but is the simpler general term

Antonyms

60 3.0

To hold something inside so it does not escape

How Much

to molt
  • Specialized
8 6.1
to shed
68 3.5
to sluff
  • Specialized
9.9
to peel
126 1.0
to flake
12 2.6

Surface Forms

sluff infinitive
sluffed past
sluffed past participle
sluffing present participle
sluffs third person singular

Etymology

Sluff as a verb comes from the older slough and gives the image of 'slipping off' or 'shedding'. So to sluff is to let an outer layer, like old skin, 'come off' as part of natural renewal or growth.