freckle

freckle
/frek"euhl/, n., v., freckled, freckling.
n.
1. one of the small, brownish spots on the skin that are caused by deposition of pigment and that increase in number and darken on exposure to sunlight; lentigo.
2. any small spot or discoloration: freckles of paint spattered on the floor.
v.t.
3. to cover with freckles; produce freckles on.
v.i.
4. to become freckled.
[1350-1400; b. obs. frecken freckle (ME frekne < ON *frekna; cf. freknottr speckled, Norw, Icel frekna, Sw fräkna freckle) and SPECKLE (n.)]

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▪ skin pigmentation
also called  ephelis , plural  ephelides, 

      a small, brownish, well-circumscribed, stainlike spot on the skin occurring most frequently in red- or sandy-haired individuals. In genetically predisposed individuals who have been exposed to the ultraviolet radiation of sunlight, production of the pigment melanin increases in the pigment cells of the skin (melanocytes); the number of melanocytes does not increase. Freckles do not form on surfaces that have not been exposed to the sun. The freckles usually appear after the age of five and tend to fade somewhat in adults. Apart from avoiding sunlight, there is no known way of preventing them. They may, on occasion, be confused with pigmented nevi.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • freckle — (n.) late 14c., also frecken, probably from O.N. freknur (pl.) freckles (Cf. Icel. frekna, Dan. fregne, Swed. frägne freckle ), from PIE * (s)preg to jerk, scatter (see SPROUT (Cf. sprout)). As a verb, from late 14c. (implied in fracled spotted; …   Etymology dictionary

  • freckle — [frek′əl] n. [ME frekel, altered < frakene < Scand, as in Norw dial. frokle, freckle & Norw frekna, Dan fregne, Swed fräkne, ON freknōttr, freckled < IE base * (s)p(h)ereg , to strew: see SPARK1] a small, brownish spot on the skin, esp.… …   English World dictionary

  • Freckle — Frec kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Freckled} (fr[e^]k k ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Freckling} (fr[e^]k kl[i^]ng).] To sprinkle or mark with freckles or small discolored spots; to spot. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Freckle — Frec kle (fr[e^]k k l), v. i. To become covered or marked with freckles; to be spotted. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Freckle — Freck le (fr[e^]k k l), n. [Dim., from the same root as freak, v. t.] 1. A small yellowish or brownish spot in the skin, particularly on the face, neck, or hands. [1913 Webster] 2. Any small spot or discoloration. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • freckle — [n] small discoloration on skin blemish, blotch, daisy, dot, lentigo, macula, mole, patch, pepper, pigmentation, pit, pock, pockmark, speck, speckle, sprinkle, stipple; concept 392 …   New thesaurus

  • freckle — ► NOUN ▪ a small light brown spot on the skin, caused and made more pronounced by exposure to the sun. ► VERB ▪ cover or become covered with freckles. DERIVATIVES freckly adjective. ORIGIN Old Norse …   English terms dictionary

  • freckle — UK [ˈfrek(ə)l] / US noun [countable] Word forms freckle : singular freckle plural freckles a small brown spot on your skin. A permanent raised brown spot on your skin is called a mole …   English dictionary

  • freckle — /ˈfrɛkəl / (say frekuhl) noun 1. a small brownish spot in the skin, especially on the face, neck, or arms. 2. any small spot or discolouration. 3. Also, chocolate freckle. a confection comprising a small disc of chocolate with a coating of… …  

  • Freckle — A tan or brown spot that develops on the skin after repeated exposure to sunlight. Freckles are most likely to develop in persons with fair complexions and red hair, occurring helter skelter on the skin in flat, * * * Yellowish or brownish… …   Medical dictionary

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