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Glite Dictionary
to exuviate

to exuviate

9.9
To shed old skin, feathers, or hair when an animal grows
  • verb
  • /ɪɡˈzuːviˌeɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : exuviarse
  • The snake exuviates its skin regularly.

Examples

  • Some reptiles exuviate their old skin regularly as they grow.

  • Many birds exuviate their feathers before the migration season.

  • During its metamorphosis, the insect will exuviate and emerge in a new form.

  • Many insects exuviate during their life cycle.

  • Many birds exuviate their feathers before the migration season.

  • Some reptiles exuviate their old skin regularly as they grow.

  • During its metamorphosis, the insect will exuviate and emerge in a new form.

Synonyms

to shed
vsto exuviate
68 3.5

To lose hair, skin or feathers naturally as they grow

is the more technical term used in scientific contexts
to molt
vsto exuviate
  • Specialized
8 6.1

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

is more general and does not stress replacement or new growth
to sluff
vsto exuviate
  • Specialized
9.9

To shed an old outer layer of skin or feathers when an animal grows

is broader, applying to any outer covering cast off, not only dead skin

Surface Forms

exuviate infinitive
exuviated past
exuviated past participle
exuviating present participle
exuviates third person singular

Morphology

exuviate = exuvia (opaque) = exuvia + ate

Formed from the obscure noun 'exuvia' plus the productive verb-forming suffix '-ate'; the base is not a familiar English word for most learners, so meaning is not transparently inferred.

Etymology

The word exuviate comes from the Latin word exuviae, meaning 'things stripped off' or 'cast-off skins'. Think of the ex- part as 'out' and the rest as what is taken off, so to exuviate is to 'take off' or shed an outer layer like skin, feathers, or a shell.