spot

1. 1

   A round or irregular patch on the surface of a thing having a different color, texture etc. and generally round in shape.

   • The leopard is noted for the spots of color in its fur.
   • Why do ladybugs have spots?
2. 2

   A stain or disfiguring mark.

   • I have tried everything, and I can’t get this spot out.
3. 3

   A pimple, papule or pustule.

   • That morning, I saw that a spot had come up on my chin.
   • I think she's got chicken pox; she's covered in spots.
4. 4

   A symbol on a playing card, domino, die, etc. indicating its value; a pip.

5. 5

   A small, unspecified amount or quantity.

   • Do come 'round on Sunday for a spot of tea, won't you?
6. 6

   A bill of five-dollar or ten-dollar denomination in dollars.USslang

   • Here's the twenty bucks I owe you, a ten spot and two five spots.
7. 7

   A location or area.

   • I like to eat lunch in a pleasant spot outside.
   • For our anniversary we went back to the same spot where we first met.
8. 8

   A parking space.

   • Del Valle has the blessing of a garage, so he doesn't have to claim “dibs” on shoveled street spots himself, he said.
9. 9

   An official determination of placement.

   • The fans were very unhappy with the referee's spot of the ball.
10. 10

    A bright lamp; a spotlight.

1. 1

   To see, find; to pick out, notice, locate, distinguish or identify.transitive

   • Try to spot the differences between these two pictures.
2. 2

   To loan a small amount of money to someone.USditransitiveslang

   • I’ll spot you ten dollars for lunch.
3. 3

   To stain; to leave a spot (on).ambitransitive

   • Hard water will spot if it is left on a surface.
   • a garment spotted with mould
4. 4

   To cover with spots, to speckle.transitive

   • No palm-tree rose to spot the wilderness; […]
   • […] many ships spotting the dark blue deep / With snowy sails, fled fast as ours came nigh, […]
5. 5

   To experience vaginal spotting; to expel blood from the vagina.

   • "If you've got regular periods with an IUD that's fine, but if you're starting to spot or get quite a regular loss, then it should be carefully investigated." (Last)
6. 6

   To rain slightly, in scattered, infrequent drops, for example when first beginning to rain.dialectal

   • And it is beginning to spot with rain. I must start work on a shelter.
   • […] thunder growled as if to confirm his prediction. Rain was beginning to spot as he kissed me in parting. I had to hurry back to the Assembly Rooms to avoid a soaking.
7. 7

   To remove, or attempt to remove, a stain.transitive

   • I spotted the carpet where the child dropped spaghetti.
8. 8

   To retouch a photograph on film to remove minor flaws.transitive

9. 9

   To support or assist a maneuver, or to be prepared to assist if safety dictates.transitive

   • I can’t do a back handspring unless somebody spots me.
10. 10

    To keep the head and eyes pointing in a single direction while turning.transitive

    • Most figure skaters do not spot their turns like dancers do.

syn. catch sight of · clock · decern · descry · espy · goam · ken · make out · spot · spy

1. 1

   Available on the spot; for immediate payment or delivery.not-comparable

   • spot wheat
   • spot cash
2. 2

   Exact; precise.informalnot-comparable

   • The other bus meets yours at the intersection within one minute; it's a spot connection, and you might not make it.