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spotted

spotted

42 1.0
Having spots or patches of a different color
  • adjective
  • /ˈspɑːtɪd/
: manchado
  • When we were watching the Great Spotted Eagles, a very loud Crake was calling nearby.
  • spotted owl
  • spotted dog
  • spotted cat

Hey, everybody, I know you all want spotted owls flying around.

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Examples

  • Hey, everybody, I know you all want spotted owls flying around.

  • Well, we got one tiny little spotted bass on a tiny little minnow here.

  • Oh, man, I got a a little spotted bass, a little guy.

  • So you want to choose at least a semi spotted area.

  • I had a green one with a bright orange and black spotted tummy.

  • A Mexican Spotted Owl at the New Mexico Hummingbird Festival.

    Blog text (3)
  • The grass grows, the buds burst, the Meadow is spotted with fire and gold in the tint of flowers.

  • He is an excellent mimic and will give a good rendition of some other forest species, including the Spotted Catbird.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The Spotted Hyena is reputed to be a scavenger and actually feeds on carrion, subsisting largely on lion kills.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The dog has a beautiful coat that is spotted with patches of brown and white.

Synonyms

speckled
vsspotted
13 2.8

Covered with many small spots of a different color

focuses on spots or patches of different color or texture
mottled
vsspotted
9 6.3

Covered with spots or patches of different colors

is narrower, focusing on simple spots or patches rather than streaks
dappled
vsspotted
8 5.5

Having light and dark spots in an uneven pattern

is simpler, covering plain spots or patches without the patterned effect
blotchy
vsspotted
5 5.0

Having irregular patches of colour on the skin or other surfaces

is more neutral and may simply mean contrasting colour or texture
variegated
vsspotted
4 7.2

Having patches or streaks of different colors

is more general, not emphasising a varied or decorative colour mix
flecked
vsspotted
4 4.4

With small spots of a different color

is broader, including both flecks and larger patches or marks
spotty
vsspotted
3 1.4

Marked with small spots or patches of a different color

is the general description but may cover more specific patterns too
splotchy
vsspotted
2 5.6

A surface with uneven patches or spots

is more neutral, covering both even spots and simple patches
patched
vsspotted
1 2.3

Shows areas of different color or material

includes both patching and also single small spots rather than only patches
blotched
vsspotted
1 6.7

Marked with irregular spots of a different color

is broader and can include neater spots or defined patches
splotched
vsspotted
1 6.1

Something that has uneven spots like stains

is less specific, also accepting regular or evenly distributed spots
specked
vsspotted
1 3.2

Covered with many small spots like drops of paint

is broader, allowing larger patches as well as small dots
bespeckled
vsspotted
1 7.1

Having small spots on the surface

allows both small marks and larger patches rather than only tiny spots
flyspecked
vsspotted
1 7.2

Marked by many small dark spots left by flies

is general and can refer to spots from any cause, not just insects
speckly
vsspotted
1 3.5

A surface with many small spots like dots on an egg or cloth

can also mean larger contrasting patches, not only fine specks

Antonyms

1 6.3

Free of marks, stains, or faults

Compounds

11 7.6

A large North American owl with dark brown feathers and white spots on its chest that lives in old forests

1 9.1

A steamed British pudding that contains dried fruit and often comes with custard

Having yellow spots on its surface

An illness caused by germs that gives you fever and a spotted skin rash

spotted hyena
  • South African
1 5.1

A large African animal that eats meat, has spots, and makes loud calls that sound like laughter

1 5.5

A serious disease from germs spread by tick bites that causes fever and a rash

A dark small animal with yellow or orange spots that lives near ponds in North America

1 4.1

Having dark marks on the surface or skin

1 7.2

A flat sea fish with a dark back covered in white or yellow dots

A large flat sea animal in warm water with long pointed fins and white spots on its back

1 7.4

A small animal from the United States and Mexico with black and white spotted fur

A medium-sized fish with dark spots that people catch for food and sport on southern United States coasts

spotted gum
  • Australian
1 9.3

A large Australian tree with smooth spotted bark and strong wood

A small brown bird that catches insects in the air

A small wading bird with brown back and black spots on its white belly

Having purple spots on its surface

1 8.0

A small freshwater fish with dark spots that people catch for food or fun

A tall North American plant with leaves around the stem and clusters of purple-pink flowers

A medium-sized bird of prey with brown feathers and pale spots in Europe and Asia

A white dog with brown spots instead of black

red-spotted purple
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A butterfly from North America with red spots under its wings

1 9.9

A tall plant with purple spots on its stems and very poisonous roots that grow in wet places

A tall poisonous plant with purple-spotted stems that grows near water and whose roots are deadly if eaten

9.9

A small desert lizard from the United States and Mexico with long stripes and light spots

A European wild flower with long spotted leaves and pink or white flowers with dark spots

A small black and white bird that pecks holes in trees

little spotted skunk
  • Specialized
7.9

A small skunk with black and white fur in a marbled pattern from the United States and Mexico

Having dark red spots

spotted bonytongue
  • Australian
9.9

A large freshwater fish from Australia with red or pink spots on its scales

A small plant with leafless stems that grows in North American forests and has white flowers with purple spots

A tall poisonous plant with purple-spotted stems and roots like small potatoes

9.9

A small brown water bird with spots that lives in swamps and marshes

A common wild geranium with deeply divided leaves and pink-purple flowers

A small spotted bird that follows army ants in Central and South American forests

spotted barramundi
  • Australian
9.9

Large Australian freshwater fish with red or pink spots on its scales

9.3

A large flying animal with dark fur, white spots, and very large ears from the southwestern United States

A freshwater fish with dark spots often found in North American rivers and lakes

8.5

A wild cat with a short tail and dark spots on its fur from southern Europe

A silvery fish with dark spots that lives along the southern United States Atlantic and Gulf coasts

A fish with dark spots on its back and sides that lives near the US Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts

A small red beetle with one black spot on each wing cover

How Spotted

mottled
9 6.3
spotted
42 1.0
speckled
13 2.8
flecked
4 4.4
unspotted
1 6.3

Surface Forms

spotted positive

Morphology

spotted = spot (transparent) = spot + ed

The meaning follows directly from 'spot' + the adjectival/past-participial suffix '-ed' to mean 'having spots', which is clear to an average learner.

Etymology

Spotted comes from the simple word spot, meaning 'a small mark', plus the ending -ed that makes it 'having'. So spotted literally means 'having spots', which is why we use it for animals, clothes, or patterns that show marks or patches.