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

His milky brown eyes, flecked with green, peer at me from behind his thick lashes.

From Literature

I could see the flecks of gray in her blue eyes and count every one of her freckles, we were that close.

From Literature

“I am!” he said with a grimace as he wiped the flecks of spit off his cheek.

From Literature

Maybe I could mix the coils with some dirt and other gold flecks and pebbles from the mines.

From Literature

The diner with stewy green beans flecked with bacon, sliding up next to a square of cornbread.

From Salon

Related Words

• speck
• stripe