speck

American  

[spek] / spɛk /

noun

1. a small spot differing in color or substance from that of the surface or material upon which it appears or lies.

   Specks of soot on the window sill.

2. a very little bit or particle.

   We haven't a speck of sugar.

3. something appearing small by comparison or by reason of distance.

   By then the town was just a speck.

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verb (used with object)

1. to mark with, or as with, a speck or specks.

speck British  

/ spɛk /

noun

1. a very small mark or spot

2. a small or tiny piece of something

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verb

1. (tr) to mark with specks or spots

Other Word Forms

• speckedness noun
• speckless adjective
• specklessly adverb
• specklessness noun

Etymology

Origin of speck

before 900; Middle English specke, Old English specca; cognate with Dutch spikkel

Example Sentences

A great big apple tree grows from a tiny brown speck of a seed.

From Literature

There was not a speck of cloud in the blue sky.

From Literature

A black expanse lay on one side of the road, fringed by distant specks of light—the lake, again.

From Literature

Surely, there has got to be some speck of humanity here, some microcosmic pocket of life detectable amid her robotic demeanor and Ratner’s styleless direction.

From Salon

A slight misalignment, or even a speck of oil from the technician’s hands, and the strands won’t join.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• blot
• dot
• fleck
• iota
• mite
• particle
• shred
• splotch
• stain