freckle

Everyday

A small light-brown spot on the skin, especially on the face and arms, that often gets darker or more in sunshine. tree →

In the lessons

In science, freckles come from a skin colour called melanin and often run in families, mostly in people with fair or red hair; sunshine brings them out. In safety lessons, people with freckles burn easily, so they need sun cream, a hat and shade. Phrases: «covered in freckles», «freckled face».

Examples

• She has freckles across her nose. tree →
• My freckles come out every summer. tree →
• Freckles often run in families. tree →
• The boy had red hair and lots of freckles. tree →
• People with freckles should wear sun cream. tree →
• Dad counted twenty freckles on my arm. tree →
• A freckle is a tiny spot of colour, not dirt. tree →
• His freckled face broke into a big smile. tree →
• Their countenances were so distorted that no one could recognize them, and even one freckle on the face appeared to spread over the whole of the nose and mouth. tree →

Note

Countable: a freckle, freckles. Adjective: «freckled». Freckles are harmless; a mole that changes shape, colour or size or bleeds should be checked by a doctor.