SCALY (scalier, scaliest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: scalier    , scaliest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does scaly mean? 

• SCALY (adjective)
  The adjective SCALY has 2 senses:

1. rough to the touch; covered with scales or scurf

2. having the body covered or partially covered with thin horny plates, as some fish and reptiles

  Familiarity information: SCALY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SCALY (adjective)

Comparative: scalier   
Superlative: scaliest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Rough to the touch; covered with scales or scurf

Synonyms:

lepidote; leprose; scabrous; scaly; scurfy

Similar:

rough; unsmooth (having or caused by an irregular surface)

Domain category:

biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)

Derivation:

scale (a flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals)

scaliness (the property of being scaly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having the body covered or partially covered with thin horny plates, as some fish and reptiles

Synonyms:

scaled; scaley; scaly

Similar:

armored; armoured (used of animals; provided with protective covering)

Domain category:

zoological science; zoology (the branch of biology that studies animals)

Derivation:

scale (a flattened rigid plate forming part of the body covering of many animals)

scaliness (the property of being scaly)

 Context examples 

It is characterized by the presence of thick, scaly patches of skin.

(Actinic (Solar) Keratosis, NCI Thesaurus)

A group of inherited or acquired skin disorders characterized by a dry, thickened, and scaly skin.

(Ichthyosis, NCI Thesaurus)

A rare cutaneous lesion presenting as a scaly verrucous plaque.

(Intraepidermal Epithelioma of Jadassohn, NCI Thesaurus)

Children with atopic dermatitis develop patches of dry, itchy, scaly skin caused by allergic inflammation.

(Scientists identify unique subtype of eczema linked to food allergy, National Institutes of Health)

A form of dermatitis characterized by red, itchy, scaly, or crusty patches that can be chronic or intermittent.

(Eczema, NCI Thesaurus)

A group of conditions in which the skin becomes inflamed, forms blisters, and becomes crusty, thick, and scaly.

(Eczema, NCI Dictionary)

A skin condition that primarily affects the scalp and face and presents as scaly inflammation.

(Erythematosquamous Dermatosis, NCI Thesaurus)

The term applied to a group of relatively uncommon inflammatory, maculopapular, scaly eruptions of unknown etiology and resistant to conventional treatment.

(Parapsoriasis, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

In mycosis fungoides, an area of skin that is thickened, raised, red, scaly, and itchy.

(Mycosis fungoides plaque, NCI Dictionary)

C. minutissimum causes erythrasma and pruritic scaly rashes in diabetic patients.

(Corynebacterium minutissimum, NCI Thesaurus)