speckle
/ˈspekl/ (bre, ipa) · [spˈɛkəl] /ˈspekl/ (ame, ipa) · [spˈɛkəl] /ˈspe-kəl How to pronounce speckle (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈspek.əl/ (bre, ipa) · [spˈɛkəl] /ˈspek.əl/ (ame, ipa)
speckle — noun
- specklesingular
- specklesplural
1. a very small spot whose colour differs from the surface around it, especially wh
a very small spot whose colour differs from the surface around it, especially when many similar dots appear together.
Hyun noticed brown speckles on the banana skin beside the lunch box.
speckles on + surface for tiny visible marks
Tiny speckles of paint showed on Femi's hands after the mural class.
speckles of + colour or material
The old marble floor had gold speckles running through the dark stone.
Under the lamp, Otis saw a red speckle near the edge of the plate.
文法句型
a speckle
speckles on + noun
speckles of + colour
用法筆記
Often used in the plural when many little marks appear across one surface. The singular form usually points to one visible dot within a larger pattern.
常見錯誤
speckle — verb
- specklepresent simple I / you / we / they
- speckles3rd person singular
- speckling-ing form
- speckledpast simple
1. to leave many tiny dots or marks on a surface, or to make it look covered with t
to leave many tiny dots or marks on a surface, or to make it look covered with them.
Rain speckled the shop window while Bilal waited for the bus home.
speckle + object for leaving tiny marks
Femi speckled the card with green paint for the school play poster.
speckle + object + with + noun
By noon, the baker's apron was speckled with flour from the mixer.
Black seeds speckled the top of Asher's bread roll after baking.
文法句型
speckle + object
speckle + object + with + noun
be speckled with + noun
用法筆記
This sense focuses on the surface receiving the little marks. The passive form is common when the marked thing matters more than the cause.
常見錯誤
2. to appear in many small separated groups across a place or surface.
to appear in many small separated groups across a place or surface.
White sheep speckled the hillside above Niran's village after sunrise.
speckle + place for scattered visible objects
Small ponds speckled the dry field after last week's heavy storm.
Fishing boats speckled the bay beyond Pedro's hotel balcony at dawn.
Yellow leaves speckled the park path after the windy afternoon.
文法句型
speckle + place
speckle + surface
speckle + area at a distance
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense does not focus on making marks. It describes separate things already visible here and there across a larger place.
3. to appear in different parts of something such as speech, writing, or a stretch
to appear in different parts of something such as speech, writing, or a stretch of time.
Short jokes speckled Cole's speech and kept the audience relaxed.
brief elements appearing through speech
French words speckled the letter that Imran sent from Montreal.
speckle + writing with repeated small additions
Moments of sunshine speckled the grey morning during Christopher's train ride.
Laughter speckled the meeting once Hyun shared photos from the trip.
文法句型
speckle + speech or writing
speckle + period of time
speckle + event with moments of + noun
用法筆記
This sense is more figurative than sense 2. It is used when small moments, words, or details turn up here and there inside a larger whole.