Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small contrasting part of something: A tiny mark, spot, or patch that differs in color or texture from the area around it.
   • A small fragment of something: A very small piece or particle that has broken off from a larger whole.

2. Verb:

   • To mark with small spots or patches: To cover or dot something with small contrasting marks.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The black fabric had a single fleck of white thread.
  • He brushed a fleck of lint from his jacket.
  • We saw flecks of gold in the stone.

• Verb:

  • The artist's painting was flecked with silver.
  • The night sky was flecked with stars.
  • His dark hair was beginning to be flecked with gray.

Advanced Usage

• "a fleck of [something]": Used to emphasize the smallness or insignificance of an amount.
  • There wasn't a fleck of evidence to support the claim.
• "flecked with": Describing a surface that is sprinkled or dotted with something.
  • The bird's egg was flecked with brown.

Variants and Related Words

• Speck (n): A tiny spot or particle. (Often used interchangeably with 'fleck').
• Speckle (n/v): A small spot or mark, or to mark with many small spots.
• Fleckless (adj, rare): Without a spot or blemish.

Synonyms

• Noun: Speck, spot, dot, mark, patch, particle, bit, fragment.
• Verb: Speckle, dot, spot, sprinkle, stipple, mottle.

Related Phrases

• Not a fleck: Not even the smallest amount.
  • The glass was clean, without a fleck of dust.

Related Idioms

• A fleck in the eye: A minor irritation or flaw (literal and figurative).
  • The criticism was just a fleck in the eye; the overall project was a success.

Noun

1. a small contrasting part of something
   • a bald spot
   • a leopard's spots
   • a patch of clouds
   • patches of thin ice
   • a fleck of red
2. a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
   • a bit of rock caught him in the eye

Verb

1. make a spot or mark onto
   • The wine spotted the tablecloth