speck
pronunciation
How to pronounce speck in British English:
UK [spek]
How to pronounce speck in American English:
US [spɛk]
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- Noun:
- a very small spot
- (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
- a slight but appreciable addition
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- Verb:
- produce specks in or on
Word Origin
- speck (n.)
- Old English specca "small spot, stain," of unknown origin; probably related to Dutch speckel "speck, speckle," Middle Dutch spekelen "to sprinkle" (compare speckle (v.)). Meaning "tiny bit" developed c. 1400. As a verb, 1570s, from the noun. Related: Specked.
Example
- 1. All this ice and nota speck of salt to be seen .
- 2. The firm specialises incleaning parts of machines that make semiconductors , in which a speck of dustis intolerable .
- 3. Miles is sitting on the ridge of the roof , his knees splayed on the shingles , like a human clothespin , staring at a speck on the southern horizon .
- 4. And l haven 't found as much as a speck .
- 5. But the world itself is only a speck of dust .