stipple Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb engrave by means of dots and flicks
  2. verb make by small short touches that together produce an even or softly graded shadow, as in paint or ink
  3. verb apply (paint) in small dots or strokes
  4. verb produce a mottled effect
    speckle.
    • The sunlight stippled the trees

WordNet

Stip"ple transitive verb
Etymology
D. stippelen to make points, to spot, dot, from stippel, dim. of stip a dot, spot.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Stippled ; present participle & verbal noun Stippling
Definitions
  1. To engrave by means of dots, in distinction from engraving in lines.
    The interlaying of small pieces can not altogether avoid a broken, stippled, spotty effect. Milman.
  2. To paint, as in water colors, by small, short touches which together produce an even or softly graded surface.
Stip"ple, Stip"pling noun (Also<
  • Stipple
  • Stippling
)
Definitions
  1. (Engraving) A mode of execution which produces the effect by dots or small points instead of lines.
  2. (Paint.) A mode of execution in which a flat or even tint is produced by many small touches.

Webster 1913