mottle

UK: /ˈmɒt^əl/ US: (mot′l)

Inflections of 'mottle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

mottles

v 3rd person singular

mottling

v pres p

mottled

v past

mottled

v past p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mot•tle  (mot′l), v., -tled, -tling, n. 
v.t. 

1. to mark or diversify with spots or blotches of a different color or shade.

n. 

2. a diversifying spot or blotch of color.
3. mottled coloring or pattern.

• probably back formation from motley 1670–80

mot′tle•ment, n. 
mot′tler, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mottle / ˈmɒt^əl/ verb

1. (transitive) to colour with streaks or blotches of different shades

noun

1. a mottled appearance, as of the surface of marble

Etymology: 17th Century: back formation from motley