fleck

American  

[flek] / flɛk /

noun

1. a speck; a small bit.

   a fleck of dirt.

2. a spot or small patch of color, light, etc..

   the dapple mare with flecks of gray.

3. a spot or mark on the skin, as a freckle.

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verb (used with object)

1. to mark with a fleck or flecks; spot; dapple.

   Synonyms:

   daub, speck, dot, spatter, bespeckle

fleck British  

/ flɛk /

noun

1. a small marking or streak; speckle

2. a small particle; speck

   a fleck of dust

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verb

1. Also: flecker.  (tr) to mark or cover with flecks; speckle

Other Word Forms

• fleckless adjective
• flecklessly adverb
• flecky adjective
• unflecked adjective

Etymology

Origin of fleck

1350–1400; Middle English flekked spotted; akin to Old Norse flekkr spot, streak, Old High German flec ( German Fleck ), Middle Low German, Middle Dutch vlecken to soil

Example Sentences

The batter is tender thanks to sour cream, the crumb flecked with spices that feel autumnal without being predictable.

From Salon

Bone Sine in Portland, Ore., flecks its mix of nuts and chana dal with ground lime leaves.

From The Wall Street Journal

Stack ladyfingers with whole-berry cranberry sauce, vanilla pudding, and whipped cream flecked with a decidedly ungodly amount of orange zest.

From Salon

Far below, through the tattered clouds, the chalk cliffs of Dover glowed white as old bone, and the dark water of the English Channel was flecked with whitecaps.

From Literature

Some were flecked with gold; others were dark as rich chocolate.

From Literature

Related Words

• speck
• stripe