exfoliate vs cast off

exfoliate and cast off both are verbs.

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

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

Other hypernyms of exfoliate include cast, drop, shake off, shed, throw, throw away, throw off.

exfoliate (verb)	cast off (verb)
grow by producing or unfolding leaves	to remove
cast off in scales, laminae, or splinters	make the last row of stitches when knitting
remove the surface, in scales or laminae
spread by opening the leaves of
come off in a very thin piece