dappling
dappling — 名詞
1. A small, rounded patch of colour that stands out clearly against the area around
斑點
與底色不同的圓形斑點或色塊
A small, rounded patch of colour that stands out clearly against the area around it because it is a different shade or tone.
Dapplings of sunlight moved across the wooden desk as wind shook the cherry tree outside.
風吹動外面的櫻桃樹時，柔和的日光斑點在舊木桌上移動。
collocation: dapplings of sunlight / dapplings of light
The grey mare had round white dapplings scattered across her neck and shoulders.
那匹灰色母馬的脖子和肩膀上有圓形的白色斑點。
collocation: white dapplings / dapplings on an animal
Amina noticed pale dapplings on the river stones where morning light broke through the branches.
Amina 注意到河石上有淺色的斑點，那是晨光穿過樹枝照下來形成的。
Dark dapplings appeared on the apple skin where hailstones had struck the fruit.
蘋果皮上出現深色斑點，那是前一夜被冰雹打過的地方。
- dapplings of light
- dapplings of colour
- pale dapplings
- white dapplings
- dark dapplings
- golden dapplings
文法句型
dapplings of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Dappling in this sense is almost always used in the plural — dapplings — and often appears with 'of' to describe what creates the spots (light, colour, shadow).
常見錯誤
2. The quality or condition of a surface that is marked with irregular spots or pat
斑駁
表面帶有斑點的狀態
The quality or condition of a surface that is marked with irregular spots or patches of a different colour.
Dappling of the fawn coat helps it blend with sunlit patches on the forest floor.
小鹿皮毛的斑駁有助於牠在森林地面的光影之間隱藏自己。
structure: the dappling of [noun]
Gardeners admire the delicate dappling on the petals of this rare orchid variety.
園藝愛好者欣賞這種稀有蘭花花瓣上精緻的斑駁色彩。
With each passing year the dappling of the old Shetland pony coat grew more pronounced.
隨著年歲增長，那匹老雪特蘭矮馬的毛色斑駁變得更加明顯。
Photographers travel to the highlands hoping to capture the autumn dappling of the birch forest.
攝影師前往高地，希望能捕捉到樺樹林中秋日的斑駁光影。
- delicate dappling
- the dappling of
- dappling on
文法句型
the dappling of + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is uncountable and describes a general quality rather than individual spots. It often appears in the pattern 'the dappling of something' or 'dappling on something'.
常見錯誤
3. An animal, especially a horse, whose coat shows a pattern of round lighter-colou
花斑動物
身上有斑點的動物，尤指馬
An animal, especially a horse, whose coat shows a pattern of round lighter-coloured spots on a darker background.
The children at Sunflower Farm always asked to ride the gentle dappling named Biscuit.
Sunflower 農場的孩子們總是要求騎那匹名叫 Biscuit 的溫和老花斑馬。
rare countable use: a dappling (a spotted animal)
Yukis charcoal drawing captured the dappling grazing quietly under a spreading oak tree.
Yuki 的木炭畫捕捉到那隻花斑動物在寬闊橡樹下靜靜吃草的姿態。
The travelling merchant led his sturdy dappling along the narrow mountain trail.
那位行商牽著強壯的花斑馬，沿著狹窄的山路前進。
Luis learned to groom the old dappling in the cool morning light of the stable.
Luis 學會了在馬廄清晨的涼爽光線下為那匹老花斑馬刷毛。
- gentle dappling
- old dappling
- grey dappling
- dappled horse
the more common way to express this; 'dappling' alone is rare
文法句型
a + dappling
用法筆記
This is an old-fashioned or specialised use, found mostly in rural or equestrian contexts. In everyday English, speakers are more likely to say 'a dappled horse' or 'a horse with a dappled coat'.
常見錯誤
dappling — 動詞
- dapplingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- dapplings3rd person singular
- dapplinging-ing form
- dapplingedpast simple
1. To cover a surface with small irregular spots or blotches of a colour that is di
使生斑點
以斑點覆蓋表面
To cover a surface with small irregular spots or blotches of a colour that is different from the background colour.
Age had dappled the silver mirror with dark patches around the edges of its frame.
年歲在那面舊銀鏡邊緣留下了深色的斑點。
passive pattern: be dappled with [something]
Moss dappled the north-facing wall of the cottage with irregular patches of deep green.
苔蘚在農舍的北牆上鋪滿了深綠色的不規則斑塊。
The horses grey coat was dappled with small white circles across its broad flanks.
那匹灰馬寬闊的兩側佈滿了白色的小圓斑點。
Afternoon sunlight from the tall window dappled the stone floor with soft golden patches.
午後陽光從高窗照進來，在石地板上灑滿柔軟的金色斑塊。
subject: light / sunlight dapples [surface]
- dappled with sunlight
- dappled with shadow
- dappled with moss
- dappled with age
- dappled with spots
文法句型
dapple + noun phrase
be dappled with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice ('the surface was dappled with...'). The preposition 'with' introduces the spots or the substance causing them. The subject is often a natural phenomenon (light, shadow, age, moss) rather than a person acting deliberately.
常見錯誤
2. To create a pattern of light and dark patches on a surface, especially when sunl
形成斑駁
產生光影斑駁的效果
To create a pattern of light and dark patches on a surface, especially when sunlight falls through leaves, curtains, or other partly transparent materials.
Leaves of the old willow tree dappled the picnic blanket with shifting green shadows.
老柳樹的樹葉在野餐毯上投下搖曳的綠色光影。
pattern: [natural object] dapples [surface] with [colour/light]
The stained glass window dappled the marble floor with red and blue circles of light.
彩繪玻璃窗在大理石地板上投射出紅色和藍色的圓形光斑。
Evening clouds dappled the lake surface with purple and orange patches at sunset.
夕陽西下時，晚雲在湖面上投射出紫色和橘色的斑塊。
Morning light dappled through the bamboo blinds and scattered bright specks across the tatami mats.
晨光穿過竹簾，在榻榻米上散落出點點亮斑。
intransitive: light dapples through [something]
- light dappled
- sunlight dappled
- shadows dappled
- dappled through
- dappled with light
文法句型
sunlight + dapples + noun phrase
light + dapples + through + noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb sense 1: this sense emphasises the light-and-shadow effect rather than simply marking a surface with colour. The subject is nearly always light or something that controls light (leaves, curtains, clouds). The intransitive pattern ('light dapples through...') describes light itself moving and creating patches.