mote
[məʊt]
[moʊt]
A mote is a small speck or spot. You might see a mote floating in the air when sunlight comes through a dusty window.
The word "mote" can refer to different things depending on how it's used. If you talk about a mote as a tiny bit of dust, it usually means something very small that gets in your eyes or is visible in a ray of light. But if someone says they're concerned with motes and beams (from the Bible), they might be talking about judging others for their own flaws - it's like saying, "Hey, look at all those tiny bits of dust on my shirt, but are you perfect too?" In this sense, the word isn't just about a small speck, but also about keeping an eye on our own behavior.
How common is "mote"?
Word mote is considered rare in modern English.
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.
Definitions
noun
A small particle; a speck.
Real examples of "motes" in context
