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spot

[spot]

Example Sentences Origin

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noun

a rounded mark or stain made by foreign matter, as mud, blood, paint, ink, etc.; a blot or speck.

something that mars one's character or reputation; blemish; flaw.

a small blemish, mole, or lesion on the skin or other surface.

a small, circumscribed mark caused by disease, allergic reaction, decay, etc.

a comparatively small, usually roundish, part of a surface differing from the rest in color, texture, character, etc.: a bald spot.

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a place or locality: A monument marks the spot where Washington slept.

Usually, spots. places of entertainment or sightseeing interest: We went to a few spots to dance and see the floor shows.

spot announcement.

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.

one of various traditional, geometric drawings of a club, diamond, heart, or spade on a playing card for indicating suit and value.

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 illustration. a small drawing, usually black and white, appearing within or accompanying a text.

14.

Chiefly British Informal.

a small quantity of anything.

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).

COLLAPSE

verb (used with object)

19.

to stain or mark with spots: The grease spotted my dress.

20.

to remove a spot or spots from (clothing), especially before dry cleaning.

21.

to sully; blemish.

22.

to mark or diversify with spots or dots, as of color: We spotted the wall with blue paint.

23.

to detect or recognize; locate or identify by seeing: to spot a hiding child.

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24.

to place or position on a particular place: to spot a billiard ball.

25.

to stop (a railroad car) at the exact place required.

26.

to scatter in various places: to spot chairs here and there in the room.

27.

Informal. spotlight (def. 5).

28.

Military.

to determine (a location) precisely on either the ground or a map.

to observe (the results of gunfire at or near a target) for the purpose of correcting aim.

29.

Photography. to remove spots from (a negative or print) by covering with opaque color.

30.

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.

31.

(in gymnastics) to watch or assist (a performer) in order to prevent injury.

32.

Slang. to lend: Can you spot me twenty for tonight's game?

COLLAPSE

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Spot is one of our favorite verbs.

So is kibitz. Does it mean:

to run away hurriedly; flee.

chat, to converse

LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

verb (used without object)

33.

to make a spot; cause a stain: Ink spots badly.

34.

to become spotted, as some fabrics when spattered with water.

35.

Military. to serve or act as a spotter.

adjective

36.

Radio, Television.

pertaining to the point of origin of a local broadcast.

broadcast between announced programs.

37.

made, paid, delivered, etc., at once: a spot sale; spot goods.

Idioms

38.

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.

39.

hit the spot, Informal. to satisfy a want or need, as to quench thirst: Iced tea hits the spot during the hot summer months.

40.

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.

41.

knock spots off, British Slang. to outdo easily; beat.

42.

on the spot,

without delay; at once; instantly.

at the very place in question.

in a difficult or embarrassing position.

in a position of being expected to act or to respond in some way.

Origin:
1150–1200; (noun) Middle English spotte; cognate with Middle Dutch, Low German spot speck, Old Norse spotti bit; (v.) late Middle English spotten to stain, mark, derivative of the noun

Related forms

spot·like, adjective

spot·ta·ble, adjective

non·spot·ta·ble, adjective

re·spot, verb, -spot·ted, -spot·ting.

un·spot·ta·ble, adjective

Synonyms
2. taint, stigma. 6. locale, site, situation. 21. stain, taint, stigmatize, soil, tarnish. 22. speckle.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To spot

Example Sentences

For fans who hang on every pitch, teams losing their grip on a playoff spot seems to happen in slow motion.

About a month ago, one of the cats developed a small bald spot on her head.

At the same time, the volume of electronic communication is exploding, complicating efforts to spot misconduct.

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For fans who hang on every pitch, teams losing their grip on a playoff spot seems to happen in slow motion.

About a month ago, one of the cats developed a small bald spot on her head.

At the same time, the volume of electronic communication is exploding, complicating efforts to spot misconduct.

Plus, you're near interesting museums to visit if you happen to come early to stake out a spot.

Wind turbines often also employ a transmission to gear the shaft speed up or down to the sweet spot.

It is easier to spot a bear's tracks than to spot the bear.

As the plants grow, you can bask in your own spot of sunshine.

But for others, suppressing the hot spot once erased it forever.

Exposed pipes run between the ceiling and floor, where a thin rug covers a large burn spot.

Scientists spot a new disease roughly every four months.

The researchers began looking at this particular spot in the sky because it already showed a strange feature.

But a strong police presence in a supercritical hot spot doesn't provide a lasting solution.

The victim, unaware of what is happening, becomes driven to climb to a high spot.

Attract attention to a garden area by adding a spot of color.

Forget about looping the block searching for a spot.

But on the way in which natural selection works-for the individual or for the group-he was spot on.

The gap between spot and contract prices has not gone away.

Look under a chunk of plastic afloat in the ocean and you're likely to spot a fish or two.

Then researchers spot something abnormal in your head.

There is some inner ear bone that only exists in those two animals, and the genetics are spot on.

Just with a squishy, tennis ball–size bald spot on her backside.

Many of the latest car models include systems that alert you when a car is in your blind spot.

Spot prawns are named for the distinctive white spots that adorn their shells.

Ring of dust lies in the sweet spot for liquid water.

The porches offer the perfect spot to savor a true neighborhood.

Basically, a curved shiny building makes a hot spot.

Pick a number to reveal a photograph of a mystery spot and the clues to its location.

Hair care pros often spot possible skin cancers on the scalp.

Effective against many plant diseases, including powdery mildew and black spot.

Spot cleaners treat small areas of carpet as a stain remover.

Astronomers spot earliest light signifying a star's doom.

Instead, grab a spot on one of the side streets downtown.

It is often easy to spot pollution from a factory or to see that trash dumped along a stream is causing pollution.

Very interesting to watch if you can spot them among the greenery.

Choose a spot where there is good air circulation, but avoid windy locations.

Spot wildlife from a cozy windowside armchair or your deep soaking tub.

Sooner or later every expert suffers from what is charitably described as a blind spot.

He knows what spot this is: the birthplace of their country.

If possible switch your camera to spot mode so that the center is weighted and you can control the exposure.

Two new apps are trying to bring together those who are leaving a parking spot and those who are seeking one.

It is not as if a prized spot is being held for your daugther to choose or not.

But now home-ownership and health insurance freeze many of them to the spot.

Mere seconds later, cloud cover returned, and the spot disappeared.

On cool evenings, a backyard firepit is the perfect gathering spot for family and friends.

Use a stud-finder to ensure that your perfect, glare-free spot has enough support and no hidden obstacles.

With, sometimes, a little statement you write on the spot about what materials you want to use and.

How galling then for the industry that the number-one spot in this week's chart was taken by.

At the time the sky appeared to be mostly black other than the spot lights on the buildings opposite.

The winner hurries back onto the beach, to his spot amidst the dozens of female seals in his harem.

Once neglected, this spot has become the focal point of the neighborhood.

How do you explain why you want to move, particularly to one specific spot in the country.

In days gone by, the fish were netted and killed on the spot.

Quickly put out the flame and look for the blackened spot inside the lid.

Channel your favorite vacation spot in your garden with these dreamy design ideas.

The best way for a young academic to earn a spot on the payroll at a museum is to begin as a volunteer or intern.

Many emerging economies are in the sweet spot of a demographic.

Here, the crime hot spot simply pops up in a nearby area.

It's not easy because you must walk from one spot to another in total darkness.

The best vacation spot is sometimes in your own backyard.

We've parked our cars and committed details and landmarks to memory, only to draw a blank when it comes time to recall the spot.

So a few branches on leaning tree fell into lazy daughter's parking spot.

Spot prices, which guide the annual benchmark, have risen steadily.

Hardcore palolo connoisseurs grab the wriggling green-and-blue worms and swallow them raw on the spot.

See how researchers keep tabs on electrical activity inside the heads of the youngest young to spot developmental challenges.

No he didnt the treasure is still out there he was looking in the wrong spot.

It's no wonder that people can be so cranky when asked to find a spot for them.

Spot and futures contracts are on offer, and options are emerging.

Spot endless earthly wonders-from boiling sapphire pools to exploding geysers.

Stare at the tiny, central black fixation spot on the white cross in a.

It's the only spot in the world where they still howl in the wild.

It has been a scenic spot for mainland and overseas tourists.

They had to make decisions for themselves on the spot.

But the team noted that they had observed an unusual big red spot on the star three years ago.

To find abnormal tissue in mammograms, radiologists have increasingly relied on computers to spot the potential tumors.

Many presses have relied on authors and readers to spot violations.

Suddenly, a spot of red light sweeps across her body and.

Addison-cap jammed down on his shaven head-would open the throttle and race for the spot.

And so, at some point along the wobbly leg's arc, it has to hit a spot on which it can rest.

She bought them on the spot and placed them in safekeeping.

It's also a good spot for casting a line to try to nab one of the river's cutthroat, rainbow, or brown trout.

Dark-clothed humans appear disgusted when they spot them from afar, and then, drawing.

Others wait their turn to romp and roll on this favored spot.

Look closely to spot two lakes in this colorized satellite image.

And he saluted this spot on the monument, then picked up his briefcase and went off to work.

After watering in one spot along the dripline, move.

The ministries say they will continue to perform spot checks to close the holes in the system.

He argues only that loopholes in derivatives accounting make it hard to spot dodgy deals.

New telescopes could spot aliens on planets around distant stars, if they like.

Grow it in rich, well-drained soil in a spot that gets full sun.

Perhaps local officials are failing to spot the brightest entrepreneurs-those deft enough to avoid the bureaucrats.

Also, insects and diseases were easier to spot on the lighter rice strains.

All you need is a big container, potting soil, and a spot that gets six hours of sun.

Parents expect more too-even a spot of cleaning while the children are at school.

They did so by inserting pacemakerlike electrodes into a spot deep in the cortex known as area.

The lawsuits charge them with either failing to spot the fraud or, in some cases, knowingly facilitating.

Avoid overhead watering, which can cause flowers to spot or droop.

It is a bright spot in the music industry's long, perilous journey to the digital world.

In a more practical sense, it allows us to find the exact spot where samples were collected".

It's also important to choose a spot for your vegetables protected from cold winds in spring and hot, dry winds in summer.

The entire arrangement makes it easy for this bifocal fish to spot a tasty bug flying above the water, or a bit of algae below.

The front patio serves as another spot for alfresco entertaining.

Having a solid relationship or knowing you made the best decision in a bad spot cannot completely shield you from life's stresses.

The mantel is a natural spot for owls of all sizes to perch among manzanita branches.

But others watching the same tape easily spot the inconsistency.

In the desert, protect from afternoon sun by planting them in a spot where they'll get filtered shade or an eastern exposure.

He could not consciously see anything, not even a spot of light, shown to him in that region.

Mirko gently pulls the excited dog from the spot and pushes through the soil with his fingers.

One spot they chose was about as far from industrial activity and vegetation as anyone could get:.

Thanks to fluorescent labels that help them to spot cancerous tissue, surgeons have removed ovarian tumor cells that might.

Such monitoring may enable scientists to spot emerging infectious diseases early enough to prevent them from becoming pandemics.

The economics of living in this spot were not favorable:.

If only a thin sheet of the seeking material is in there, it would leave a dark spot in the image.

Neural networks learn to spot patterns in known data sets, and can use these patterns to make predictions about other data.

So it may be that the model doesn't have any data for a particular spot on the map and has to use interpolated data.

Even though the ball travels farther with increased pitch speed, it's harder to adjust too and hit on the sweet spot.

Honeymoon clichés notwithstanding, this is a don't-miss spot.

Replacing the flat roof with a gabled one created space for the loft, which sits above the garage's remaining parking spot.

COLLAPSE

Collins

World English Dictionary

spot (spɒt)

—n
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 chiefly (Brit) 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
	a. Also called: spot ball the white ball that is distinguished from the plain by a mark or spot
	b. 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)
	a. spot market See also spot price denoting or relating to goods, currencies, or securities available for immediate delivery and payment: spot goods
	b. involving immediate cash payment: spot sales
15.	(used mainly in negative constructions) change one's spots 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
	a. immediately
	b. at the place in question
	c. in the best possible position to deal with a situation
	d. in an awkward predicament
	e. without moving from the place of one's location, etc
	f. (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
	a. some aspect of a character or situation that is susceptible to criticism
	b. a flaw in a person's knowledge: classics is my weak spot

—vb , spots, spotting, spotted
22.	(tr) to observe or perceive suddenly, esp under difficult circumstances; discern
23.	to put stains or spots upon (something)
24.	(intr) (of some fabrics) to be susceptible to spotting by or as if by water: silk spots easily
25.	(tr) to place here and there: they spotted observers along the border
26.	to look out for and note (trains, talent, etc)
27.	(intr) to rain slightly; spit
28.	(tr) billiards to place (a ball) on one of the spots
29.	military to adjust fire in order to correct deviations from (the target) by observation
30.	informal (US) (tr) to yield (an advantage or concession) to (one's opponent): to spot someone a piece in chess

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

'spottable

—*adj*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

spot

c.1200, "moral stain," probably from O.E. splott "a spot, blot, patch (of land)" infl. by M.Du. spotte "spot, speck." Other cognates are E.Fris. spot "speck," N.Fris. spot "speck, piece of ground," O.N. spotti "small piece." It is likely that some of these are borrowed, but the exact evolution now is

EXPAND

impossible to trace. Meaning "speck, stain" is from c.1340. The sense of "particular place" is from c.1300. Meaning "short interval in a broadcast for an advertisement or announcement" is from 1923. Proceeded by a number (e.g. five-spot) it originally was a term for "prison sentence" of that many years (1901, Amer.Eng. slang). To put (someone) on the spot "place in a difficult situation" is from 1928. Colloquial phrase to hit the spot "satisfy, be what is required" is from 1868. Spot check first attested 1933. Spot on "completely, accurately" is attested from 1920.

spot

early 15c., "to stain, sully, tarnish" from spot (n.). Sense of "to stain with spots" is attested from mid-15c. Meaning "to see and recognize," is from 1718, originally colloquial and applied to a criminal or suspected person; the general sense is from 1860.

COLLAPSE

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

spot (spŏt)
n.

A mark on a surface differing sharply in color from its surroundings.
A stain or blot.

v. spot·ted, spot·ting, spots
To lose a slight amount of blood through the vagina.

Slang Dictionary

spot definition

n.
a small drink of liquor. : I'll just have a spot, please.
n.
a nightclub; a night spot. : It was a nice little spot, with a combo and a canary.

Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

spot (so) ( (sth) definition

tv.
to give an advantage to someone. : I'll spot you twenty points.

Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

American Heritage

Abbreviations & Acronyms

SPOT
satellite positioning and tracking

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

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.