Dapple

To mark with spots or patches of a different color or shade; to become marked with such spots or patches. This usually applies to areas of sunlight and shadow, often creating a mottled or spotted pattern. The effect is typically visually appealing and suggests a play of light and dark. It can describe the natural appearance of animals, plants, or landscapes, or be used metaphorically to represent something mixed or varied.

Dapple meaning with examples

• Sunlight filtering through the leaves of the ancient oak dappled the forest floor, creating an ethereal, mosaic-like effect. Patches of golden light danced over the mossy ground, illuminating the hidden treasures of the undergrowth.
• The artist carefully used varying shades of grey to dapple the horse's coat, capturing the texture of the animal's fur and the subtle interplay of light and shadow. This artistic technique gave life to the painting.
• As the storm clouds began to recede, the sunlight dappled the rain-soaked landscape, painting a transient masterpiece of light and shadow across the fields, giving the scene a new life.
• The children loved the dappled pattern that created the soft textures of the cloud which moved across the sky, creating the illusion of shapes, characters, and creatures that lived in their imagination.