stipple

1 of 2

verb

stip·​ple ˈsti-pəl How to pronounce stipple (audio)
stippled; stippling ˈsti-p(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce stipple (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to engrave by means of dots and flicks
2
a
: to make by small short touches (as of paint or ink) that together produce an even or softly graded shadow
b
: to apply (something, such as paint) by repeated small touches
3
stippler noun

stipple

2 of 2

noun

: production of gradation of light and shade in graphic art by stippling small points, larger dots, or longer strokes
also : an effect produced in this way

Examples of stipple in a Sentence

Verb the sunlight falling through the lace curtain stippled her face
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Glossy black dots of frass tend to be found in association with stippling damage on plants infested with thrips. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 1 Feb. 2024 The team used stippling to age her, but the details mattered, especially for the eyes. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 13 Jan. 2024 Low humidity or over-fertilization may damage leaves or encourage a population boom of spider mites that stipple the foliage. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2024 For best results, apply liquid foundation in dots and use this brush for a natural, soft-focus finish via stippling. Iman Balagam, Allure, 5 Aug. 2023 The white stippling bristles are fabulous for a natural finish, while the smaller buffing brush has soft, dense fibers in a slightly curved shape that pick up more product, but never too much. Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 25 July 2023 Though your plant may be sheltered from pests indoors, orchids can be infested by scale (insects appear to be circular bumps on stems), mites (tiny spider-like pests that cause stippling on leaves), or mealybugs (white, fluffy insects). Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 16 June 2023 Palm trees and cactuses stipple the town, and reddish buttes rise in the distance. Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 15 June 2023 Sephora recommends that the product is first warmed in the fingers before being tapped into place on the face, while Nars advises adding a stippling brush to blend it into wrinkles, scars, or large pores. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 13 June 2023
Noun
The black splotches were raised, like tiny hillocks, and covered in even tinier white stipples. Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2023 That’s then coupled with the show’s old-school comic book influences like stipple in the texturing and a pen and ink style for the characters. Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Feb. 2023 Handcoloured stipple engraving by Moret after an illustration by Pierre-Joseph Redoute from Henri Louis Duhamel du Moncel's Treat des Arbres et Shrustes, Paris, 1804-1819. Emma Elwick-Bates, Vogue, 25 Jan. 2023 Stage three required more silicone cheeks, chin, neck, back of neck, lips and stretch and stipple to age around her eyes, forehead and furrow. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 Mar. 2022 The surface of the lake, roused to a salt-and-pepper stipple by the rain, was devoid of sailboats or swimmers. John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 5 June 2021 With the iron heated, carefully press the tip into the plastic of the handle repeatedly to cover it with stipples. Tyler Freel, Outdoor Life, 19 Nov. 2019 The 26-year-old tenor saxophonist has set most of these original compositions at a medium-fast tempo, and her saxophone stipples and scampers, gesturing toward the influence of the alto saxophonist Steve Lehman. New York Times, 11 May 2018 Pro Tip: To quickly cover dark circles, stipple (a.k.a. Amber Kallor, Marie Claire, 28 Apr. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stipple.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Dutch stippelen to spot, dot

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1762, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stipple was circa 1762

Dictionary Entries Near stipple

Cite this Entry

“Stipple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stipple. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

stipple

verb
stip·​ple
ˈstip-əl
stippled; stippling
-(ə-)liŋ
: to apply (as paint or ink) by repeated small touches
stipple noun
stippler
-(ə-)lər
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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