English Lexicon

Speck

/spɛk/
nounverbCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #15420 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A small spot or mark, especially one that is insignificant or minor.

    "There was a speck of dust on the table that caught my eye."
  2. 2

    A small amount of something, often used in a figurative sense.

    "He only had a speck of doubt about the plan."

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Synonyms (3)
Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from Middle English 'spekke', originating from Old English 'specca', meaning a small spot or patch. It is cognate with Middle Low German and Middle Dutch 'specke' and is related to terms indicating small blemishes or dots.

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