speck

1 of 2

noun

plural specks
Synonyms of specknext
1
: a small discoloration or spot especially from stain or decay
2
: a very small amount : bit
3
: something marked or marred with specks
specked adjective

speck

2 of 2

verb

specked; specking; specks

transitive verb

: to mark (something or someone) with or as if with specks : speckle
High up against the horizon were the huge conical masses of hill … with sombre greenish sides visibly specked with sheep …George Eliot
… the strange little figure there gazing at me, with a white face and arms specking the gloom … had the effect of a real spirit …Charlotte Brontë

Examples of speck in a Sentence

Noun There was not a speck of dust anywhere. Soon the balloon was only a speck in the sky. She writes without a speck of humor. Verb dirt that had specked the windows of the factory for ages
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The titular town is a serene speck of a place in the west of Japan, near a mountain also called Nagi, a beautiful but raggedy landscape that patchworks swathes of virgin forest, farmed fields and twinkling solar panels. Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026 The reward for doing business without a speck of conscience is potentially billions. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 May 2026
Verb
Of course local photographer Geoff Baker was out and about in the storm as well, and his black-and-white shot of Main Street, with the snow specking the lens, is also memorable. Janet Kusterer, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2026 When selecting a pattern, veined countertop patterns are the overwhelming favorite (75%), followed by 13% of homeowners choosing specked, and 12% choosing a uniform pattern. Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 13 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for speck

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English specke, from Old English specca

Verb

derivative of speck entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of speck was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Speck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speck. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

speck

1 of 2 noun
1
: a small spot or blemish
2
: a very small amount : bit
just a speck more milk

speck

2 of 2 verb
: to make specks on or in

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