speckle

[ spek-uhl ]

noun

1. a small speck, spot, or mark, as on skin.
2. speckled coloring or marking.

verb (used with object)

, speck·led, speck·ling.

1. to mark with or as with speckles.

speckle

/ ˈspɛkəl /

noun

1. a small or slight mark usually of a contrasting colour, as on the skin, a bird's plumage, or eggs

verb

1. tr to mark with or as if with speckles

Derived Forms

• ˈspeckled, adjective

Other Words From

• speckled·ness noun
• un·speckled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of speckle¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; speck, -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of speckle¹

C15: from Middle Dutch spekkel; see speck

Example Sentences

Reflected, back-scattered photons return from the target object carrying speckle noise, a random type of flaw that occurs in imagery.

From Science Daily

Alongside pro-Trump banners and at least one poster of Harris with devil horns, Portuguese flags speckled the crowd.

From Los Angeles Times

Then she noticed the walls speckled with mold.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s important that we can speak to why we are not serving flounder and have speckled sea trout instead.

From Salon

One night in October, an enormous swirl of birds flew over Chicago, astounding those who had their binoculars trained on the flashes of yellow, white and brown speckling the sky above.

From New York Times

Related Words

• mottle