1. Engrave by means of dots and flicks
   "The artist stippled the background to create a soft texture"
    
2. Make by small short touches that together produce an even or softly graded shadow, as in paint or ink
   "The illustrator stippled the background to create a misty effect"
    
3. Apply (paint) in small dots or strokes
   "The painter stippled the canvas to create a textured effect"
    
4. Produce a mottled effect
   "The sunlight stippled the trees";
   - speckle

Derived forms: stippled, stipples, stippling

Type of: cloud, dapple, engrave, etch, mottle, paint

Encyclopedia: Stipple