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

Similarly, their laser-phosphor light engine can't show laser speckle, which can be an issue for tri-color laser sources. —M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 17 May 2026

The creature was pale with speckles and had suffered injuries to its tail and stomach, believed to have been caused by a predator, BBC reported. —Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026

Verb

On Tuesday, a few campaign signs speckled the cream walls of the room. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 May 2026

Switzerland's natural beauty and breadth are astounding—snowcapped mountains with some of the world's best skiing, verdant valleys speckled with wildflowers, and quaint cities filled with cultural attractions and world-class restaurants. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 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