mottled

adjective

mot·​tled ˈmä-tᵊld How to pronounce mottled (audio)
: marked with spots of different colors : having blotches of two or more colors
mottled tree bark
a mottled complexion
the bird's mottled plumage
A combination of red and blue pigments in the shell of a live lobster creates a mottled camouflage of indeterminate hue that blends in with the ocean floor.Kenneth Chang

Examples of mottled in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Several of its rustic cabins date to the 1920s, and the current mottled wood paneling and floors, sturdy stone fireplaces and antique lighting harken back to that era. Catherine Garcia, theweek, 18 Oct. 2024 The mottled appearance provides one-of-a-kind character that ages beautifully. Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 31 July 2024 The geckos’ eyes appear to blend in with the rest of the mottled pattern. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 26 July 2024 For instance, astronomers are in the early phases of using how mottled a galaxy looks as a proxy for its distance. Liz Kruesi, WIRED, 8 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mottled 

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mottled was in 1676

Dictionary Entries Near mottled

Cite this Entry

“Mottled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mottled. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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