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Flakes: meaning, definitions and examples

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flakes

 

[fleɪks ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

food item

Flakes are small, thin pieces of material that can easily break off from a larger substance. In culinary contexts, the term often refers to components like cereals or breakfast foods, where the product is made up of small, crisp pieces. Flakes can also denote layers that have broken away from a surface, such as paint or skin. This term is commonly used in several food products, especially in reference to breakfast cereals, snacks, and toppings.

Synonyms

crumbs, pieces, shards.

Examples of usage

  • I enjoy eating corn flakes for breakfast.
  • She sprinkled chocolate flakes on her dessert.
  • The snowflakes began to fall softly from the sky.
  • He bought a box of fish flakes for his aquarium.
  • The cookie recipe calls for coconut flakes.
Context #2 | Noun

cosmetic

In cosmetics, flakes often refer to small pieces of shimmer or glitter that can be applied to the skin to enhance appearance. Makeup products can contain glitter flakes that reflect light, giving a sparkling effect. These flakes can vary in size and color, allowing for a versatile application to achieve different looks, especially in festive or artistic makeup styles.

Synonyms

glitter, shimmer, sparkle.

Examples of usage

  • She used glitter flakes to enhance her eye makeup.
  • The festival makeup included colorful shimmer flakes.
  • He prefers using gold flakes for a classy look.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word 'flakes' comes from the Old English 'flaca,' meaning a thin piece or layer.
  • In Middle English, related terms like 'flak' referred to something flat or spread out.
  • The use of 'flakes' to describe snow or small particles dates back to the 14th century.

Science

  • Flakes of minerals can form through various geological processes such as weathering and crystallization.
  • In chemistry, 'flakes' can refer to solid materials that have been precipitated from a solution.
  • Snowflakes are unique ice crystal formations that occur when water vapor freezes, each one being different.

Food Culture

  • Cornflakes, invented in the late 19th century by the Kellogg brothers, became a staple breakfast food worldwide.
  • Fish flakes are used in various cuisines, notably in Japanese dishes like sushi and dashi broth.
  • Flaked chocolate is often used as a topping for desserts to add texture and flavor.

Literature

  • In poetry, flakes can symbolize fragility, as seen in works that describe the delicate nature of snow.
  • The imagery of flakes is often used in storytelling to evoke a sense of calm or tranquility, like a snowfall in winter.
  • Flakes may also serve as a metaphor for transformation or the passing of time, being tiny remnants of larger entities.

Translations

Translations of the word "flakes" in other languages:

🇵🇹 flocos

🇮🇳 पत्ते

🇩🇪 Flocken

🇮🇩 serpihan

🇺🇦 пластівці

🇵🇱 płatki

🇯🇵 フレーク

🇫🇷 flocons

🇪🇸 copos

🇹🇷 pul

🇰🇷 조각

🇸🇦 رقائق

🇨🇿 vločky

🇸🇰 pľúca

🇨🇳 片

🇸🇮 kosmi

🇮🇸 flög

🇰🇿 тұздық

🇬🇪 ფანტელები

🇦🇿 tükən

🇲🇽 copos

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,233, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.