stipple

American  

[stip-uhl] / ˈstɪp əl /

verb (used with object)

stippled, stippling

1. to paint, engrave, or draw by means of dots or small touches.

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noun

1. the method of painting, engraving, etc., by stippling.

2. stippled work; a painting, engraving, or the like, executed by means of dots or small spots.

stipple British  

/ ˈstɪpəl /

verb

1. to draw, engrave, or paint using dots or flecks

2. to apply paint, powder, etc, to (something) with many light dabs

3. to give (wet paint, cement, etc) a granular effect

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noun

1. the technique of stippling or a picture produced by or using stippling

Other Word Forms

• stippler noun
• unstippled adjective

Etymology

Origin of stipple

1660–70; < Dutch stippelen, frequentative of stippen to dot, derivative of stip dot

Explanation

If you stipple something, that means you add tiny dots of color or texture, such as using a special painting tool to stipple a plain wall with dots of a different color to make it look more interesting. The verb stipple came into English from the Dutch word stippelen, meaning "to spot or dot.” Artist stipple paint onto their canvases and from the distance, the dots look like a field of flowers. You can also stipple metal, by poking it with a tool that creates little circular dents — that look like dots — to give it an artistic look.

Example Sentences

Microscopic chasms forming a sea of conical jagged peaks stipple the surface of a material called black silicon.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2024

Also known as acoustical stipple ceilings, they were once a popular choice for their ability to absorb sound and hide imperfections.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2024

I introduced a forehead piece to the existing Stage 3 look and added old-age stipple around the eyes, along with eyebrow hair pieces.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2024

Palm trees and cactuses stipple the town, and reddish buttes rise in the distance.

From New York Times • Jun. 15, 2023

He’s wearing the uniform of the Guardians, but his cap is tilted at a jaunty angle and his sleeves are rolled to the elbow, showing his forearms, tanned but with a stipple of dark hairs.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood