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 eggs vary in color—from white to blue to brown—with speckles, blotches, and other markings and are also distinctive in shape. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026

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

Verb

Hungary’s towns and cities are speckled with posters showing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, often alongside Orbán’s opponent in the election, Péter Magyar. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026

The ground-hugging, fuzzy foliage looks sort of like parsley and is usually speckled. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 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