freckle

American  

[frek-uhl] / ˈfrɛk əl /

noun

1. one of the small, brownish spots on the skin that are caused by deposition of pigment and that increase in number and darken on exposure to sunlight; lentigo.

2. any small spot or discoloration.

   freckles of paint spattered on the floor.

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verb (used with object)

freckled, freckling

1. to cover with freckles; produce freckles on.

verb (used without object)

freckled, freckling

1. to become freckled.

freckle British  

/ ˈfrɛkəl /

noun

1. Technical name: lentigo.  a small brownish spot on the skin: a localized deposit of the pigment melanin, developed by exposure to sunlight

2. any small area of discoloration; a spot

3. slang the anus

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verb

1. to mark or become marked with freckles or spots

Other Word Forms

• freckled adjective
• unfreckled adjective
• well-freckled adjective

Etymology

Origin of freckle

1350–1400; blend of obsolete frecken freckle ( Middle English frekne < Old Norse *frekna; compare freknōttr speckled, Norwegian, Icelandic frekna, Swedish fräkna freckle) and speckle (noun)

Example Sentences

As the team worked, Tilly gained freckles and a few extra pounds so she wouldn’t look too slight for an action movie.

From The Wall Street Journal

As a teenager, she was self-conscious about her freckles and found it hard to please her glamorous parents.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her light brown cheeks are dotted with freckles, just under her vigilant hazel eyes.

From Literature

His gaze froze on a kid with red hair and freckles.

From Literature

As a pre-teen, freshly sprung from an orthodontist’s chair, my idea of heaven was a Wendy’s fry — natural-cut, skins freckled along the edges, salt like tiny rhinestones clinging to grease — dunked into a chocolate Frosty.

From Salon

Related Words

• blemish
• blotch
• mole