Standard Lemma guide

maculation

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /măk′yə-lā′shən/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of spotting; a spot; a blemish.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable

Examples

  • 1891, Ambrose Bierce, “A Holy Terror” in Tales of Soldiers and Civilians, San Francisco: E. L. G. Steele, p. 218, He could make out a mottled pattern on the hollow cheeks—the maculations of decay.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A pattern of spots.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences, zoology

Examples

  • 1990, Mason E. Hale, A Synopsis of the Lichen Genus Xanthoparmelia (Vainio) Hale (Ascomycotina, Parmeliaceae), Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, p. 195, [This lichen] species [...] is recognized by [...] more or less distinct maculation on the upper surface, and pale brown lower surface.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the act of spotting or staining something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: staining, spotting

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: soiling, soilure, dirtying

4

noun

Meaning 4

a small contrasting part of something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a bald spot
  • a leopard's spots
  • a patch of clouds
  • patches of thin ice
  • a fleck of red

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: spot, speckle, dapple, patch, fleck

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: marking

Narrower terms: speck, pinpoint, nebula, splash, worn spot, fret, plaque, macule, macula, parhelion, mock sun, sundog, sunspot, facula

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English macule English -ate Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English -ion English maculation From macule + -ate + -ion.