stipple
/ˈstɪp.əl/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To mark or draw with many small dots. Artists use it to create shade, texture, or tone.
- She stippled the sky with tiny blue dots.
- The artist stippled the shadows lightly.
- He stippled the paper to add texture.
noun
A small dot or speck made in a pattern. In art or printing, stipples can build an image.
- The page was covered in tiny stipples.
- Each stipple added to the shaded area.
- The print used fine stipples for detail.
Adinary Nuance
Stipple is more technical than simple words like "dot" or "mark." It suggests many small points used together, often in art, printing, or design. Writers choose it when they want to show careful texture, not just one or two dots.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- chấm li ti
- Spanish
- puntillar
- Chinese
- 点描
- Japanese
- 点で描く
- Korean
- 점묘
Etymology
Stipple came into English in the 17th century, probably from a Dutch or Low German word related to making spots or small marks. Its original idea was a dotted surface.
Common phrases
stippled shadingstipple with inkfine stipplesstipple effect
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is stipple a common word in everyday English?
- No, it is more common in art, design, printing, and technical writing.
- What is the difference between stipple and dot?
- A dot is one point. Stipple usually means many small dots used together.
- Can I use stipple in business writing?
- Only if you are talking about design, graphics, or printing.
- How do I use stipple in a sentence?
- You can say, "The artist stippled the background with black ink."