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

Devil's Den State Park, Arkansas Wood and stone structures erected by the 1930s-era Civilian Conservation Corps speckle the rugged landscape of Devil's Den State Park. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026

For example, 'Pink Splash’ features hot pink streaks on deep green leaves, and ‘Snow White’ has white speckles on deep green leaves. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026

Verb

Their mountain cuisine is built on elemental processes, like fire and fermentation, and makes use of wild herbs, freshwater fish, game meats, and cheeses crafted in the malghe, the seasonal dairy farms that speckle the hillsides. —Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2025

Inside, a long, gray bar — speckled like the surface of the moon — sits near a hi-fi stereo system. —Kansas City Star, 26 Nov. 2025

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