Speck — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈspek/

Meaning & Definition of Speck

Speck (noun)

  1. a small discoloration or spot especially from stain or decay
  2. a very small amount, bit
  3. something marked or marred with specks
  4. a cold-smoked Italian ham that is flavored with herbs and spices such as juniper, black pepper, and garlic

Speck (verb)

  1. to mark (something or someone) with or as if with specks, speckle

Speck (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part

    "a lizard with specks of white against a green body"

    similar: blotch, dapple, dot, eyespot, fleck, mottle, patch, pip, point, speckle, splotch, spot
    related: birthmark, freckle, mole, blob, blot, mark, smear, smudge, smutch, stain, spatter, splash, polka dot

  2. a very small amount

    "not a speck of explanation to accompany the book's pictures"

    similar: ace, bit, crumb, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer, hint, lick, little, mite, nip, ounce, particle, peanuts, ray, scintilla, scruple, shade, shadow, shred, skosh, smack, smell, smidgen, snap, soupçon, spark, spatter, splash, spot, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, tad, touch, trace, drop in the bucket
    related: hoot, iota, jot, minim, minimum, modicum, semblance, syllable, tittle, vestige, whit, atom, dot, fleck, flyspeck, grain, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, patch, scrap, dash, drop, pinch, part, portion, section, bite, nibble, taste, handful, scattering, smatter, smattering, dose, shot, chip, flake, fragment, shard, shiver, sliver, smithereens, splinter, tatter, clipping, paring, shaving
    near: abundance, barrel, boatload, bucket, bundle, bushel, deal, fistful, gobs, heaps, lashings (chiefly British), loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, oodles, passel, peck, pile, plenty, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, stack, wad, wealth, volume, bonanza, embarrassment, excess, overabundance, overage, overflow, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus, chunk, hunk, lump, slab

  3. a very small piece

    "a speck of dust was preventing the laser from reading the disc"

    similar: atom, bit, crumb, dribble, fleck, flyspeck, grain, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, nugget, particle, patch, scrap, scruple, snip, snippet, tittle
    related: ace, dab, dash, driblet, drop, fraction, haet (chiefly Scottish), halfpenny, ha'penny, iota, jot, kenning (chiefly Scottish), lick, minim, mite, modicum, nutshell, ounce, pinch, shred, smatter, smidgen, spot, strain, streak, suspicion, taste, touch, trace, whisper, whit, bite, mouthful, nibble, tidbit, fragment, part, portion, section, chip, flake, shard, shiver, sliver, splinter, clipping, paring, shaving, smithereens
    near: chunk, gob, hunk, lump, slab, abundance, barrel, bucket, bushel, deal, heaps, loads, mass, mountain, peck, pile, pot, profusion, quantity, raft, scads, stack, volume, wad, wealth

Speck (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to mark with small spots especially unevenly

    "dirt that had specked the windows of the factory for ages"

    similar: blotch, dapple, dot, fleck, freckle, marble, mottle, pepper, shoot, speckle, splotch, spot, sprinkle, stipple
    related: blot, dye, stain, band, bar, streak, stripe, intersperse, set, stud, bespatter, spatter

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Speck

The most common words with a similar meaning to Speck:

blotch, dapple, dot, eyespot, fleck, mottle, patch, pip, point, speckle, splotch, spot, ace, bit, crumb, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer, hint, lick, little, mite, nip, ounce, particle, peanuts, ray, scintilla, scruple, shade, shadow, shred, skosh, smack, smell, smidgen, snap, soupçon, spark

Related Words for Speck

birthmark, mole, blob, blot, mark, smear, smudge, smutch, stain, polka dot, hoot, iota, jot, minim, minimum, modicum, semblance, syllable, vestige, whit, dash, drop, pinch, part, portion, section, bite, nibble, taste, handful

Near Antonyms of Speck

abundance, barrel, boatload, bucket, bundle, bushel, deal, fistful, gobs, heaps, lashings, loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, oodles, passel, peck, pile, plenty, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, stack, wad

Word Forms of Speck

Inflections: specks, specked, specking

Derived words: specked (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Speck

Middle English specke, from Old English specca

First known use: before 12th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Speck

What does "Speck" mean?

"Speck" means a small discoloration or spot especially from stain or decay. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a small discoloration or spot especially from stain or decay. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Speck"?

Other words for "Speck" include blotch, dapple, dot, eyespot, fleck, mottle, patch and pip. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Speck" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Speck"?

There are 134 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Speck". Common alternatives include blotch, dapple, dot, eyespot, fleck, mottle, patch, pip, point and speckle.

How do you use "Speck" in a sentence?

Examples of "Speck" in a sentence: "a lizard with specks of white against a green body"; "not a speck of explanation to accompany the book's pictures"; "a speck of dust was preventing the laser from reading the disc".

Is "Speck" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Speck" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Speck"?

"Speck" is pronounced /ˈspek/.

What is the origin of the word "Speck"?

"Speck" comes from Middle English specke, from Old English specca. First known use: before 12th century.

What is another word for "Speck" meaning "a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part"?

When "Speck" (noun) means a small area that is different (as in color) from the main part, synonyms include blotch, dapple, dot, eyespot, fleck and mottle.