speck

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary

n. a very small amount of a feeling or quality.

n. a minute amount or trace of an abstract quality.

“There wasn't a speck of truth in the rumors he told me.”

“Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, he didn't show a speck of remorse during the entire trial.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Cooking Technical

n. a type of salty, smoked ham that is usually sliced very thin.

n. a distinct variety of juniper-flavoured, dry-cured, and smoked ham originating from the Tyrol region.

“We ordered a platter of speck and local cheeses for the appetizer.”

“The chef insisted on sourcing authentic Tyrolean speck to ensure the carbonara maintained its traditional smoky profile.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical · Archaic

n. the fat or blubber of a large animal like a whale.

n. the blubber or subcutaneous fat of whales and other marine mammals.

“The old journals described how the sailors processed the whale speck for oil.”

“Historical accounts of the whaling industry detail the arduous process of stripping the speck from the carcass before the rendering began.”

C2 · Proficiency Literary

v. to cover something with many tiny dots or marks.

v. to mark or dot a surface with small spots or particles.

“Tiny drops of red paint began to speck the white floor.”

“As the storm approached, heavy droplets of rain began to speck the dry pavement, creating a mosaic of dark circles.”