dappled

Everyday

1. Dappled means marked with spots or patches of different colours or shades. tree →
2. Dappled light or shade is a pattern of light and shadow, for example under trees. tree →

In the lessons

A descriptive word loved in stories and poems: «dappled sunlight» falls through leaves; a «dappled grey» horse has spotted fur. In art lessons, it describes how light breaks into patches. It helps the reader picture a soft, spotted pattern.

Examples

• We sat in the dappled shade of the oak tree. tree →
• The dappled sunlight danced on the path. tree →
• The pony was dappled grey. tree →
• A fawn has a dappled coat that hides it in the woods. tree →
• The painter showed the dappled light on the river. tree →
• The forest floor was dappled with gold. tree →
• This horse was dappled too, and so like Dapplegrim that no one could distinguish the one from the other. tree →

Note

Verb: dapple (to mark with spots); usually seen as «dappled». Similar: spotted, mottled, speckled.