exfoliate vs break off

exfoliate and break off both are verbs.

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

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

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

exfoliate (verb)	break off (verb)
grow by producing or unfolding leaves	prevent completion
cast off in scales, laminae, or splinters	interrupt before its natural or planned end
remove the surface, in scales or laminae	break a small piece off from
spread by opening the leaves of	break off (a piece from a whole)
come off in a very thin piece	break a piece from a whole