I. ˈspek noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English specke, from Old English specca
1.
a. : a small discoloration in or on something : spot , stain
a speck on paper or cloth
covered with dark specks
b. : a small discoloration revealing decay (as in fruit) ; broadly : flaw , blemish
a reputation without a speck
2. : a tiny bit of something : a small piece, particle, or amount : mite
put just a speck of milk in the tea
ore sparkling with specks of gold
the announcement failed to arouse a speck of interest
3.
a. : a bacterial or fungous disease of rice characterized by shriveled or specked grains
b. : a disease of plants characterized by small usually circumscribed lesions — see bacterial speck
4. : something marked or marred with specks: as
a. : imperfect but usable fruit
bought a basket of specks for jelly
b. : a spotted or speckled fish
when the big specks begin biting
5. : a small sand darter ( Ulocentra stigmaea ) common in the southeastern United States
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to produce specks and especially blemishes on or in : spot , speckle
2. : to remove specks from (as cloth)
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English spekke
dialect England : patch
IV. noun
Etymology: Dutch spek (from Middle Dutch spec ) & German speck, from Old High German spek; both akin to Old English spec, spic bacon, blubber, Old Norse spik, Sanskrit sphigī buttock, sphāyati he increases, grows fat — more at speed
chiefly dialect : fat meat: as
a. : bacon , salt pork
b. : the blubber of a whale or other marine animal
c. Africa : the fat of the hippopotamus especially when cured for use as bacon
V. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: by shortening and alteration
Australia : prospect 1a