speckle

1 of 2

noun

speck·​le ˈspe-kəl 

: a little speck (as of color)

speckle

2 of 2

verb

speckled; speckling ˈspe-k(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to mark with speckles

2

: to be distributed in or on like speckles

Synonyms of speckle

Noun

• fleck
• speck
• dot
• blotch
• patch

Verb

• sprinkle
• dot
• stain
• pepper
• fleck
• dye
• speck

Examples of speckle in a Sentence

Noun

a ripe banana with lots of brown speckles

the cat has a speckle of orange right at her whiskers

Verb

speckled the cookies with colored sugar

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The collection follows a very classic autumnal color palette, with speckles of burgundy, brown, khaki, and deep greens. — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2026

Toss them into a pantry-friendly pasta with speckles of salty pancetta. — Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Oct. 2026

Verb

Tuna salad mashed into tender flakes, speckled with crisp celery, onion, and herbs. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Nov. 2026

The town square is speckled with Southern Colonial Revival and neoclassical homes that have been beautifully preserved. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English; akin to Old English specca

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing speckle

• speckle interferometry

Rhymes for speckle

• decal
• freckle
• meckel
• shekel
• thecal

Kids Definition

speckle

1 of 2 noun

speck·​le ˈspek-əl 

: a small mark (as of color)

speckle

2 of 2 verb

speckled; speckling ˈspek-(ə-)liŋ 

: to mark with speckles