WordGarden.iospeck
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /spˈɛk/
US
- /ˈspɛk/
Meanings
Noun
a tiny spot, mark, or particle
a very small amount or trace of something
Verb
to mark or cover with small spots
Beyond the definition
A speck is something very small: a tiny dot, a bit of dust, or a small piece of something. You might find a speck of dirt on a clean shirt or notice a speck of glitter left after a party. It usually describes something so small that it is easy to miss, even though you can still see it if you look closely.
The word is also used for a very small amount of something. You might say there is not a speck of doubt, meaning not even the smallest amount. It often suggests both small size and how little something seems next to what is around it.
The word "speck" refers to a very small particle, spot, or mark, often so small that it is barely visible. Imagine looking up at the night sky: faraway stars can seem like tiny specks of light against the dark. That picture captures the heart of the word. A speck is not just small; it is small compared with the space or surface around it.
In everyday life, you might see a speck of dust in a sunbeam, a speck of paint on a wall, or a speck of mud on a shoe. The word is often used for dirt, sand, ash, powder, light, or any other tiny thing that appears as a dot or grain. It can also mean a very small amount of something less physical. If someone says there is not a speck of kindness, doubt, or truth in something, they mean there is none at all, not even the smallest bit.
"Speck" often helps create a clear visual contrast between something tiny and something much bigger. A person may feel like a speck in a huge city, or an island may look like a speck on a map. In that way, the word can suggest smallness, distance, or even unimportance, depending on the context.
So whether it points to a grain of dust, a faint spot of light, or the smallest amount of a feeling or quality, "speck" always carries the idea of something tiny that stands out against a larger whole.
Examples
- 1
Dust
There was a speck of dust on the camera lens.
- 2
Sunlight
Tiny specks floated in the sunlight near the window.
- 3
Distant people
From the hill, the people on the beach looked like dark specks.
- 4
Horizon
At first, the boat was only a speck on the horizon.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Clean floor
The floor was so clean that there wasn't a speck of dirt anywhere.
- Phrasenot a speck of
not even a very small amount of
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- specknounverb
Forms
- speckspluralnounverb