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Definition of mote

mote

/moʊt/
mote
Plural:motes
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mote Lexical Profile

mote Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A tiny piece or speck of a substance, especially a particle of dust floating in a beam of light.

Example

"Millions of tiny dust motes danced in the afternoon sunbeams streaming through the library window."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for mote

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'mote' (a tiny speck of dust) with its homophone 'moat' (a deep defensive trench surrounding a castle). In formal or literary contexts, 'mote' frequently allusions to the biblical proverb about noticing a speck in another person's eye while ignoring a beam in one's own.

• Rhymes for mote

• Nearby Words

mostly
mosul
motagua
mote
motel
moth
moth bean

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'mot' (speck, particle of dust, or atom), of West Germanic origin and related to Dutch 'mot' (sawdust or grit).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mote. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mote
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