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)

Explanation

A freckle is a small, brownish spot on the skin. You might have a few freckles on your nose, or a lot of freckles across your shoulders and arms. Most babies don't have any freckles, but people who are genetically predisposed to them and spend time in the sun tend to get freckles as children. People with pale skin, and sometimes red hair, have a tendency to get freckles and are more vulnerable to the sun's UV rays. If you have freckles, you should definitely use sunblock. When new freckles appear, you can say that you freckle.

Example Sentences

I can feel the backs of my knees burn and I can see my otherwise monochrome shoulders freckle if I’m outside for a bit too long.

From Scientific American • Sep. 8, 2023

These Polynesian islands — a freckle, invisible on many maps — make up the world's fourth smallest nation, population around 12,000 and a land size of ten square miles.

From Salon • Dec. 3, 2022

Fragrant date palms, first grown by Arabs who arrived in the seventh century, freckle stretches of arable land hemmed in by sand dunes.

From New York Times • Nov. 17, 2022

Paris Tippett, 26, from Reading said she noticed a new freckle on her leg after prolonged sunbed use and was subsequently diagnosed with stage two melanoma.

From BBC • Jul. 3, 2022

I’m pretty sure I’d be happy devoting the rest of my life to kissing each and every Ben freckle.

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Related Words

• blemish
• blotch
• mole