speck

C2+ Topic:Grammar & Function Words

US /spɛk/ UK /spɛk/ See IPA manual

Homophones

spec /spɛk/

noun verb

Meanings

1

noun
a tiny spot or particle

A speck of dust floated in the sunbeam.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a tiny spot or particle spot particle dot mote fleck speckle bit

Word family

Forms speckless

Derived forms specklespecked

Related forms speckle

Etymology

From Old English specca ('small spot, mark'), of uncertain further origin but related to West Germanic forms denoting a spot.

specca Old English

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Topics

Grammar & Function Words

# speck

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** spɛk
**IPA (UK):** spɛk

## Meanings
1. a tiny spot or particle

## Examples
- A speck of dust floated in the sunbeam.

## Synonyms
- spot
- particle
- dot
- mote
- fleck
- speckle
- bit

## Derived Forms
- speckle
- specked

## Related Forms
- speckle

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: specca

## Etymology
From Old English specca ('small spot, mark'), of uncertain further origin but related to West Germanic forms denoting a spot.

## AI Etymology
Speck comes from Old English specca ('small spot, mark'), of uncertain further origin but related to West Germanic forms denoting a spot. The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As a noun and verb, it denotes "a tiny spot or particle", keeping the historical idea close to its dictionary sense. Relevant historical forms include Old English specca. Derivative forms include speckle, specked; related words include speckle.

## Topics
- Grammar & Function Words

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speck

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