SPECKLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does speckle mean? 

• SPECKLE (noun)
  The noun SPECKLE has 1 sense:

1. a small contrasting part of something

  Familiarity information: SPECKLE used as a noun is very rare.

• SPECKLE (verb)
  The verb SPECKLE has 2 senses:

1. produce a mottled effect

2. mark with small spots

  Familiarity information: SPECKLE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPECKLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small contrasting part of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

dapple; fleck; maculation; patch; speckle; spot

Context example:

a fleck of red

Hypernyms ("speckle" is a kind of...):

marking (a pattern of marks)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "speckle"):

pinpoint; speck (a very small spot)

nebula ((pathology) a faint cloudy spot on the cornea)

splash (a patch of bright color)

fret; worn spot (a spot that has been worn away by abrasion or erosion)

plaque ((pathology) a small abnormal patch on or inside the body)

macula; macule (a patch of skin that is discolored but not usually elevated; caused by various diseases)

mock sun; parhelion; sundog (a bright spot on the parhelic circle; caused by diffraction by ice crystals)

macula; sunspot (a cooler darker spot appearing periodically on the sun's photosphere; associated with a strong magnetic field)

facula; solar facula (a large bright spot on the sun's photosphere occurring most frequently in the vicinity of sunspots)

facula (a bright spot on a planet)

Derivation:

speckle (mark with small spots)

speckle (produce a mottled effect)

• SPECKLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they speckle    ... he / she / it speckles   
Past simple: speckled   
Past participle: speckled   
-ing form: speckling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Produce a mottled effect

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

speckle; stipple

Context example:

The sunlight stippled the trees

Hypernyms (to "speckle" is one way to...):

cloud; dapple; mottle (colour with streaks or blotches of different shades)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

speckle (a small contrasting part of something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Mark with small spots

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

bespeckle; speckle

Context example:

speckle the wall with tiny yellow spots

Hypernyms (to "speckle" is one way to...):

blob; blot; fleck; spot (make a spot or mark onto)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

speckle (a small contrasting part of something)

 Context examples 

“The band! the speckled band!” whispered Holmes.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It comes in blue or red speckled.

(Australian Cattle Dog, NCI Thesaurus)

The coat comes in white with blue, lemon, orange, or brown speckling.

(English Setter, NCI Thesaurus)

Researchers first collected a series of photographs on a speckled background pattern.

(Seeing Shock Waves, EARTH OBSERVATORY)

Groups of uniform small cells with scant cytoplasm and round to oval nuclei with dense speckled chromatin form clusters thickening bronchiolar wall and/or protruding into the lumen.

(Neuroendocrine Hyperplasia of the Mouse Pulmonary System, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

Some dogs have tan markings, and some are roan (speckled).

(Field Spaniel, NCI Thesaurus)

The boiled tea was very bitter, the omelet scorched, and the biscuits speckled with saleratus, but Mrs. March received her repast with thanks and laughed heartily over it after Jo was gone.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“In breeches and gaiters, broad-brimmed hat, grey coat, speckled choker,” said the waiter.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The Pointer, also known as the English Pointer, has a well-muscled, athletic body and a short, sleek coat that comes in primarily white, but may be liver, lemon, black or orange; solid, patched or speckled.

(English Pointer, NCI Thesaurus)

They paused, however, at the bridge, and, leaning their elbows upon the stonework, they stood looking down at their own faces in the glassy stream, and at the swift flash of speckled trout against the tawny gravel.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)