speck

[ spek ]

noun

1. a small spot differing in color or substance from that of the surface or material upon which it appears or lies:

   Specks of soot on the window sill.

2. a very little bit or particle:

   We haven't a speck of sugar.

3. something appearing small by comparison or by reason of distance:

   By then the town was just a speck.

verb (used with object)

1. to mark with, or as with, a speck or specks.

speck

/ spɛk /

noun

1. a very small mark or spot
2. a small or tiny piece of something

verb

1. tr to mark with specks or spots

Other Words From

• speck·ed·ness [spek, -id-nis], noun
• speckless adjective
• speckless·ly adverb
• speckless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of speck¹

before 900; Middle English specke, Old English specca; cognate with Dutch spikkel

Word History and Origins

Origin of speck¹

Old English specca; related to Middle Dutch spekelen to sprinkle

Example Sentences

Then be grateful for this perk,And forget that the economy is dreck, And while I plot my coup — here’s what I’ve got for you,It’s just a speck.

From Washington Post

Hundreds of specks appear clustered beyond Neptune, a hint that something up to 10 times as massive as Earth might lie beyond.

From Popular-Science

That star was no longer an anonymous speck floating in a vast uncharted sea.

From Science News

An atomic nucleus is a vanishingly small speck at the core of a comparatively vast atom.

From Nautilus

Some of these negatively charged electrons will be absorbed by the surrounding specks of dust.

From Science News For Students

“I think you'd make a great city planner just based on what you've learned from designing this game,” Speck tells Librande.

From The Daily Beast

“I think about design, but I'm not operating on a scale where I'm thinking about power production,” says Speck.

From The Daily Beast

Dick pointed to a black speck on the water, a considerable distance ahead of them.

From Project Gutenberg

Nigger, as his name implied, was a magnificent coal-black animal without a speck of white upon him anywhere.

From Project Gutenberg

They came to a turn in the passage and for a moment a little speck of light showed ahead of them.

From Project Gutenberg

The upper edge of the sun was just visible above the horizon, gleaming through the haze like a speck of ruddy fire.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the officers instantly went to the top with his binocular, bringing it to bear on a small, far distant speck on the ocean.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blot
• dot
• fleck
• iota
• mite
• particle
• shred
• splotch
• stain