exfoliate vs break away

exfoliate and break away both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
exfoliate	No	No	Yes	No
break away	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, break away is a hypernym of exfoliate; that is, break away is a word with a broader meaning than exfoliate:

Other hypernyms of exfoliate include break off, chip, chip off, come off.

exfoliate (verb)	break away (verb)
grow by producing or unfolding leaves	break off (a piece from a whole)
cast off in scales, laminae, or splinters	flee; take to one's heels; cut and run
remove the surface, in scales or laminae	move away or escape suddenly
spread by opening the leaves of	withdraw from an organization or communion
come off in a very thin piece	interrupt a continued activity