spot Hear it!

spot definition

spot (spät)

noun

  1. a small area of different color or texture from the main area of which it is a part; often, a mark made by some foreign matter; stain, blot, speck, patch, etc.
    1. any of the pips used on playing cards, dice, etc.
    2. a playing card having (a specified number of) pips the ten spot of spades
  2. a flaw or defect, as in character or reputation; something blameworthy; fault
    1. a locality; place a good fishing spot
    2. any small area or space
  3. spotlight
  4. a small, edible, silvery, marine drum fish (Leiostomus xanthurus) of the W Atlantic with a black spot behind the gill cover
  5. Brit., Informal a small quantity; bit a spot of tea
  6. Informal position; situation; job
  7. Informal position or place in a schedule or listing
  8. Informal a spot advertisement or announcement
  9. Informal the advantage or handicap given an opponent
  10. Slang a nightclub
  11. Slang a piece of paper money of a specified value a ten spot

Etymology: ME < or akin to MDu spotte, akin to ON spotti, small piece (of ground)

transitive verb spotted spot′·ted, spotting spot′·ting

  1. to mark with spots
  2. to sully; stain; blemish
  3. to mark for future consideration
    1. to place in or on a given spot or spots; locate to spot men at strategic points
    2. Informal to put in a spot in a schedule or listing
  4. to be located at various places in or on
  5. to shine a spotlight on
  6. to remove (individual spots, marks, etc.) as in dry cleaning
    1. to pick out; detect; see; recognize to spot someone in a crowd
    2. to determine the location of (a target, the enemy, etc.)
    3. to correct the accuracy of (gunfire) for a gun crew
  7. to observe and report on (plays) as a spotter in sports
  8. Informal to allow as an advantage or handicap to spot an opponent points

intransitive verb

  1. to become marked with spots
  2. to cause a spot or spots; make a stain, as ink, water, etc.
  3. to act as a spotter, esp. for a gun crew or in sports

adjective

    1. that can be paid out or delivered immediately; ready spot cash
    2. involving immediate payment of cash
    3. involving cash transactions only
  1. made at random or according to an arbitrary sampling procedure a spot survey
  2. inserted between regular radio or television programs a spot advertisement or announcement
spot Idioms

change one's spots

Informal to alter one's fundamental or distinguishing beliefs, behavior, etc.

hit the high spots

Informal to treat only the main points of a topic, as in a cursory discussion

hit the spot

Informal to satisfy a craving or need

in a (bad) spot

Slang in a bad situation; in trouble

on the spot

  1. on or at the place mentioned
  2. at once; immediately
  3. Slang in trouble or difficulty
  4. Slang in a position where something, as a reply, is expected of one
  5. Slang in danger, esp. in danger of death by murder

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