maculate

/ˈmækyəˌleɪt/

Other forms: maculated; maculating

If your little sister has a maculate appearance, she either needs a good wipe with a damp towel or you should take her to the doctor straight away. A fairly technical word little used now, maculate means "spotted" or "blotchy."

There's another meaning for maculate, that of "having a blemished or impure moral character." Now your little sister doesn't have that, does she? You can also maculate something by either physically or metaphorically polluting it — like a river or a relationship.

Definitions of maculate

1. adjective

   morally blemished; stained or impure
   synonyms: defiled

   impure

   (used of persons or behaviors) immoral or obscene
2. adjective

   spotted or blotched
   synonyms:

   dirty, soiled, unclean

   soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
3. verb

   spot, stain, or pollute
   synonyms: befoul, defile, foul

   type of:

   attaint, disgrace, dishonor, dishonour, shame

   bring shame or dishonor upon
4. verb

   make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
   synonyms: defile, stain, sully, tarnish

   types:

   darken

   tarnish or stain

   type of:

   blob, blot, fleck, spot

   make a spot or mark onto