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
mottled; mottling
ˈmät-liŋ 
ˈmä-tᵊl-iŋ
: to mark with spots or blotches of different color or shades of color as if stained
Synonyms
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
Katie Becker, Harper's BAZAAR, 5 Oct. 2015
Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2024
Glossy and gorgeously mottled, these seafoam green scallops look like shiny ceramic tiles grouted in gleaming white—but they’re actually peel and stick squares made of durable, flexible PVC.
—Sarah Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mottle 
Noun
Remember to continue your daily sunscreen use to stave off more mottle.
—Katie Becker, Harper's BAZAAR, 5 Oct. 2015
Verb
The attraction starts with the bread, a square of focaccia mottled with voluptuous, deep brown bubbles.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2024
Glossy and gorgeously mottled, these seafoam green scallops look like shiny ceramic tiles grouted in gleaming white—but they’re actually peel and stick squares made of durable, flexible PVC.
—Sarah Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mottle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mottle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near mottle
Cite this Entry
“Mottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mottle. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
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