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

This includes checking for the aforementioned signs, such as yellow leaves, spots, speckles, and stickiness, but most importantly, inspecting the plants for bugs and eggs on their leaves, containers, and surrounding areas. —Molly Burford, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026

There are more than 800 different varieties of camellias throughout the park, ranging from white to deep red solid flowers to multi-colored petals with spots and speckles. —Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026

Verb

The resulting cookies are speckled like bird food (in a good way) and as fueling as a protein bar (without any of the weird ingredients). —Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Feb. 2026

In the stock image of a royal robe lined with white fur speckled in black, each speckle represents the tail of one dead stoat. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 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