spot

[ spot ]

/ spɒt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: spot / spots / spotted / spotting on Thesaurus.com

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.

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.

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.

a pip, as on dice or dominoes.

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?

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

Chiefly British Informal.

a small quantity of anything.
a drink: a spot of tea.

a small croaker, Leiostomus xanthurus, of the eastern coast of the U.S., used as a food fish.

spots, Informal. commodities, as grain, wool, and soybeans, sold for immediate delivery.

spot price.

Informal. spotlight (def. 1).

verb (used with object), spot·ted, spot·ting.

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

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

to sully; blemish.

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

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

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

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

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

Informal. spotlight (def. 5).

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.

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

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.

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

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

verb (used without object), spot·ted, spot·ting.

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

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

Military. to serve or act as a spotter.

adjective

Radio, Television.

pertaining to the point of origin of a local broadcast.
broadcast between announced programs.

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

OTHER WORDS FOR spot

2 taint, stigma.

6 locale, site, situation.

21 stain, taint, stigmatize, soil, tarnish.

22 speckle.

See synonyms for spot on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about spot

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.

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

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.

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

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 of spot

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

OTHER WORDS FROM spot

spotlike, adjectivespot·ta·ble, adjectivenon·spot·ta·ble, adjectivere·spot, verb, re·spot·ted, re·spot·ting.

un·spot·ta·ble, adjective

Words nearby spot

sportswriter, sport utility vehicle, sporty, sporulate, sporule, spot, spot announcement, spot card, spot check, spot height, spotless

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use spot in a sentence

Still, some parents wondered what they were sending their kids to and worried not attending could cost their kid a spot on the school’s team.
School Sports Became ‘Clubs’ Amid the Pandemic – Now Two Coaches Are Out|Ashly McGlone|September 17, 2020|Voice of San Diego
On Monday it was announced that a peculiar gas called phosphine had been spotted in the clouds above Venus.
We need to go to Venus as soon as possible|Neel Patel|September 16, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Spotting such marvels requires finding just the right wild spot.
‘Vampire’ parasite challenges the definition of a plant|Susan Milius|September 16, 2020|Science News For Students
Hurricanes that inch along can actually bring more destruction as they hover over an area, dumping immense amounts of water in one spot.
A nearly unprecedented cluster of tropical storms are brewing in the Atlantic|Sara Chodosh|September 15, 2020|Popular-Science

Given the way the two companies have cared for their people and the wider community, it’s no wonder that both Stryker and Arthrex earned spots on the 2020 list of the Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production.
How the Best Workplaces in Manufacturing have risen to the COVID-19 challenge|lbelanger225|September 10, 2020|Fortune
Michael Steinbrick, a personal trainer with New York Sports Clubs, says he can always spot a newbie.
How to Survive the New Year ‘Gympocalypse’|Tim Teeman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In the years to come, Wha became a legendary starting out spot for various soon-to-be rock stars.
The Bars That Made America Great|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And so the “Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ria” in this number earns it a spot on my list.
Yes, I Like Christmas Music. Stop Laughing.|Michael Tomasky|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On my short list of the great rock voices of all time, he is battling for the top spot with Mick Jagger.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker|Ted Gioia|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While 15 miles per week has benefits, “the sweet spot is probably around 30 miles of running per week,” Williams argues.
Running 15 Miles a Week Could Slash Alzheimer’s Risk|DailyBurn|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Suddenly, however, he became aware of a small black spot far ahead in the very middle of the unencumbered track.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
There was a lathe near the spot where David Arden stood, and shavings and splinters under his feet.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
We see the whole land, even if but at a distance, instead of being limited merely to the spot where our foot treads.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
A lurid spot on each cheek showed burning red through the bronze of his skin.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
A clock was put above the spot where the fountain stood, in April, 1852, which cost £60.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell

British Dictionary definitions for spot

spot

/ (spɒt) /

noun

a small mark on a surface, such as a circular patch or stain, differing in colour or texture from its surroundings

a geographical area that is restricted in extenta beauty spot

a locationthis is the exact spot on which he died

a blemish of the skin, esp a pimple or one occurring through some disease

a blemish on the character of a person; moral flaw

informal a place of entertainmentwe hit all the night spots

informal, mainly British a small quantity or amounta spot of lunch

informal an awkward situationthat puts me in a bit of a spot

a short period between regular television or radio programmes that is used for advertising

a position or length of time in a show assigned to a specific performer

short for spotlight

(in billiards)

Also called: spot ball the white ball that is distinguished from the plain by a mark or spot
the player using this ball

billiards snooker one of several small black dots on a table that mark where a ball is to be placed

(modifier)

denoting or relating to goods, currencies, or securities available for immediate delivery and paymentspot goods See also spot market, spot price
involving immediate cash paymentspot sales

change one's spots (used mainly in negative constructions) to reform one's character

high spot an outstanding eventthe high spot of the holiday was the visit to the winery

knock spots off to outstrip or outdo with ease

on the spot

immediately
at the place in question
in the best possible position to deal with a situation
in an awkward predicament
without moving from the place of one's location, etc
(as modifier)our on-the-spot reporter

soft spot a special sympathetic affection or weakness for a person or thing

tight spot a serious, difficult, or dangerous situation

weak spot

some aspect of a character or situation that is susceptible to criticism
a flaw in a person's knowledgeclassics is my weak spot

verb spots, spotting or spotted

(tr) to observe or perceive suddenly, esp under difficult circumstances; discern

to put stains or spots upon (something)

(intr) (of some fabrics) to be susceptible to spotting by or as if by watersilk spots easily

(tr) to place here and therethey spotted observers along the border

to look out for and note (trains, talent, etc)

(intr) to rain slightly; spit

(tr) billiards to place (a ball) on one of the spots

military to adjust fire in order to correct deviations from (the target) by observation

(tr) US informal to yield (an advantage or concession) to (one's opponent)to spot someone a piece in chess

Derived forms of spot

spottable, adjective

Word Origin for spot

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with spot

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.

spot

OTHER WORDS FOR spot

Idioms about spot

Origin of spot

OTHER WORDS FROM spot

Words nearby spot

Words related to spot

How to use spot in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spot

Derived forms of spot

Word Origin for spot

Other Idioms and Phrases with spot