dappled
Say it: DAP-uhld /ˈdæpəld/ · adjective
What “dappled” means
Covered in patches of light and shade, or colour.
More precisely: Marked with patches of light and shade, or spots of colour.
Example: “We ate under the dappled shade of an old plane tree.”
When to use it
Use it for patchy sunlight, shade or colouring in everyday descriptions, often when noticing attractive natural patterns.
Similar words
mottled, speckled, flecked
Quick check
Sunlight passes through leaves and scatters bright patches across the woodland path. Which word describes the light?
striped or dappled?
Show the answer
dappled
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