mottle

1 of 2

noun

mot·​tle ˈmä-tᵊl How to pronounce mottle (audio)
1
: a colored spot
2
a
: a surface having colored spots or blotches
b
: the arrangement of such spots or blotches on a surface
3

mottle

2 of 2

verb

mottled; mottling ˈmät-liŋ How to pronounce mottle (audio)
ˈmä-tᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

: to mark with spots or blotches of different color or shades of color as if stained
mottler
ˈmät-lər How to pronounce mottle (audio)
ˈmä-tᵊl-ər
noun

Examples of mottle in a Sentence

Noun canvases covered with streaks and mottles Verb old papers that were mottled by mold
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Remember to continue your daily sunscreen use to stave off more mottle. Katie Becker, Harper's BAZAAR, 5 Oct. 2015
Verb
Some skeptics of adding fluoride to public water are worried about dental fluorosis, which is caused by overexposure to fluoride and can mottle teeth. Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 16 Nov. 2024 The gas stations had the dingy look of gas stations everywhere, mottled with the stains of oil and exhaust. Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mottle 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably back-formation from motley

First Known Use

Noun

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mottle was in 1602

Dictionary Entries Near mottle

Cite this Entry

“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mottle. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

mottle

1 of 2 noun
mot·​tle ˈmät-ᵊl How to pronounce mottle (audio)
1
: a colored spot
2
: a pattern of colored spots or blotches
mottled adjective

mottle

2 of 2 verb
mottled; mottling ˈmät-liŋ How to pronounce mottle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
: to mark with spots or blotches of different color or shades of color as if stained

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