MOTE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mote mean? 

• MOTE (noun)
  The noun MOTE has 1 sense:

1. (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything

  Familiarity information: MOTE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MOTE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

atom; corpuscle; molecule; mote; particle; speck

Hypernyms ("mote" is a kind of...):

material; stuff (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mote"):

grain (a relatively small granular particle of a substance)

grinding (material resulting from the process of grinding)

chylomicron (a microscopic particle of triglycerides produced in the intestines during digestion; in the bloodstream they release their fatty acids into the blood)

flyspeck (a tiny dark speck made by the excrement of a fly)

identification particle (a tiny particle of material that can be added to a product to indicate the source of manufacture)

 Context examples 

It is a very little world, a mote, a speck, and I marvel that men should dare to venture the sea on a contrivance so small and fragile.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)