Flake  —n. 1 small thin light piece of snow etc. 2 thin broad piece peeled or split off. 3 dogfish etc. As food. —v. (-king) (often foll. By away, off) 1 take off or come away in flakes. 2 sprinkle with or fall in flakes.  flake out colloq. Fall asleep or drop from exhaustion; faint. [origin unknown]