spot

[ spot ]

noun

1. a rounded mark or stain made by foreign matter, as mud, blood, paint, ink, etc.; a blot or speck.
2. something that mars one's character or reputation; blemish; flaw.

   Synonyms: stigma, taint

3. a small blemish, mole, or lesion on the skin or other surface.
4. a small, circumscribed mark caused by disease, allergic reaction, decay, etc.
5. a comparatively small, usually roundish, part of a surface differing from the rest in color, texture, character, etc.:

   a bald spot.

6. a place or locality:

   A monument marks the spot where Washington slept.

   Synonyms: situation, site, locale

7. Usually spots. places of entertainment or sightseeing interest:

   We went to a few spots to dance and see the floor shows.

8. spot announcement.
9. a specific position in a sequence or hierarchy:

   The choral group has the second spot on the program, right after the dancers. He moved up from second spot to become president of the firm.

10. Cards.
    1. one of various traditional, geometric drawings of a club, diamond, heart, or spade on a playing card for indicating suit and value.
    2. any playing card from a two through a ten:

       He drew a jack, a queen, and a three spot.

11. a pip, as on dice or dominoes.
12. Slang. a piece of paper money, almost always indicated as a five- or ten-dollar bill:

    Can you loan me a five spot until payday?

13. Also called spot illustration. a small drawing, usually black and white, appearing within or accompanying a text.
14. Chiefly British Informal.
    1. a small quantity of anything.
    2. a drink:

       a spot of tea.

15. a small croaker, Leiostomus xanthurus, of the eastern coast of the U.S., used as a food fish.
16. spots, Informal. commodities, as grain, wool, and soybeans, sold for immediate delivery.
17. spot price.
18. Informal. spotlight ( def 1 ).

verb (used with object)

, spot·ted, spot·ting.

1. to stain or mark with spots:

   The grease spotted my dress.

2. to remove a spot or spots from (clothing), especially before dry cleaning.
3. to sully; blemish.

   Synonyms: tarnish, soil, stigmatize, taint, stain

4. to mark or diversify with spots or dots, as of color:

   We spotted the wall with blue paint.

   Synonyms: speckle

5. to detect or recognize; locate or identify by seeing:

   to spot a hiding child.

6. to place or position on a particular place:

   to spot a billiard ball.

7. to stop (a railroad car) at the exact place required.
8. to scatter in various places:

   to spot chairs here and there in the room.

9. Informal. spotlight ( def 5 ).
10. Military.
    1. to determine (a location) precisely on either the ground or a map.
    2. to observe (the results of gunfire at or near a target) for the purpose of correcting aim.
11. Photography. to remove spots from (a negative or print) by covering with opaque color.
12. Sports. to give or grant a certain margin or advantage to (an opponent):

    He spotted the tyro 12 points a game. The champion won, although spotting the challenger twenty pounds.

13. (in gymnastics) to watch or assist (a performer) in order to prevent injury.
14. Slang. to lend:

    Can you spot me twenty for tonight's game?

verb (used without object)

, spot·ted, spot·ting.

1. to make a spot; cause a stain:

   Ink spots badly.

2. to become spotted, as some fabrics when spattered with water.
3. Military. to serve or act as a spotter.

adjective

1. Radio, Television.
   1. pertaining to the point of origin of a local broadcast.
   2. broadcast between announced programs.
2. made, paid, delivered, etc., at once:

   a spot sale; spot goods.

spot

/ spɒt /

noun

1. a small mark on a surface, such as a circular patch or stain, differing in colour or texture from its surroundings
2. a geographical area that is restricted in extent

   a beauty spot

3. a location

   this is the exact spot on which he died

4. a blemish of the skin, esp a pimple or one occurring through some disease
5. a blemish on the character of a person; moral flaw
6. informal.
   a place of entertainment

   we hit all the night spots

7. informal.
   a small quantity or amount

   a spot of lunch

8. informal.
   an awkward situation

   that puts me in a bit of a spot

9. a short period between regular television or radio programmes that is used for advertising
10. a position or length of time in a show assigned to a specific performer
11. short for spotlight
12. in billiards
    1. Also calledspot ball the white ball that is distinguished from the plain by a mark or spot
    2. the player using this ball
13. billiards snooker one of several small black dots on a table that mark where a ball is to be placed
14. modifier
    1. denoting or relating to goods, currencies, or securities available for immediate delivery and payment See also spot market spot price

       spot goods

    2. involving immediate cash payment

       spot sales

15. change one's spots
    used mainly in negative constructions to reform one's character
16. high spot
    an outstanding event

    the high spot of the holiday was the visit to the winery

17. knock spots off
    to outstrip or outdo with ease
18. on the spot
    1. immediately
    2. at the place in question
    3. in the best possible position to deal with a situation
    4. in an awkward predicament
    5. without moving from the place of one's location, etc
    6. ( as modifier )

       our on-the-spot reporter

19. soft spot
    a special sympathetic affection or weakness for a person or thing
20. tight spot
    a serious, difficult, or dangerous situation
21. weak spot
    1. some aspect of a character or situation that is susceptible to criticism
    2. a flaw in a person's knowledge

       classics is my weak spot

verb

1. tr to observe or perceive suddenly, esp under difficult circumstances; discern
2. to put stains or spots upon (something)
3. intr (of some fabrics) to be susceptible to spotting by or as if by water

   silk spots easily

4. tr to place here and there

   they spotted observers along the border

5. to look out for and note (trains, talent, etc)
6. intr to rain slightly; spit
7. tr billiards to place (a ball) on one of the spots
8. military to adjust fire in order to correct deviations from (the target) by observation
9. informal.
   tr to yield (an advantage or concession) to (one's opponent)

   to spot someone a piece in chess

Derived Forms

• ˈspottable, adjective

Other Words From

• spotlike adjective
• spotta·ble adjective
• non·spotta·ble adjective
• re·spot verb respotted respotting
• un·spotta·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spot¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; (for the noun) Middle English spotte; cognate with Middle Dutch, Low German spot “speck,” Old Norse spotti “bit”; (for the verb) late Middle English spotten “to stain, mark,” derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spot¹

C12 (in the sense: moral blemish): of German origin; compare Middle Dutch spotte, Old Norse spotti

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hit the high spots, Informal. to deal with or include only the major points of interest:

   With but a limited amount of vacation time, he concentrated on hitting the high spots of Europe.

2. hit the spot, Informal. to satisfy a want or need, as to quench thirst:

   Iced tea hits the spot during the hot summer months.

3. in a (bad) spot, in an uncomfortable or dangerous predicament:

   The tourists found themselves in a bad spot after they lost their money in Las Vegas.

4. knock spots off, British Slang. to outdo easily; beat.
5. on the spot,
   1. without delay; at once; instantly.
   2. at the very place in question.
   3. in a difficult or embarrassing position.
   4. in a position of being expected to act or to respond in some way.

More idioms and phrases containing spot

see blind spot ; hit the high spots ; hit the spot ; in a bind (tight spot) ; in a fix (spot) ; Johnny-on-the-spot ; knock the socks (spots) off ; leopard cannot change its spots ; on the spot ; rooted to the spot ; soft spot ; x marks the spot .

Example Sentences

Smith returned to California in “a bad mental spot” — depression runs in his family, he says — but he regained some stability working as a nurse and as a worship leader.

From Los Angeles Times

The questions continued after PMQ, as reporters sought to put the prime minister's official spokeswoman on the spot.

From BBC

The couple even hired a bloodhound handler to track Mushie’s scent from the dogsitter’s home to a nearby spot where the trail stopped cold.

From Los Angeles Times

She stepped up to the line and placed the ball on the penalty spot.

From BBC

As someone born in Saint-Marc, Haiti, who moved to the U.S. when she was 7, her platform now — and its potential for good, whether it’s escapism or speaking out — is a bright spot.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• place
• point
• position
• section
• setting
• site
• situation
• slot
• station