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
  3. 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
  5. spotlight
  6. a small, edible, silvery, marine drum fish (Leiostomus xanthurus) of the W Atlantic with a black spot behind the gill cover
  7. Brit., Informal a small quantity; bit a spot of tea
  8. Informal position; situation; job
  9. Informal position or place in a schedule or listing
  10. Informal a spot advertisement or announcement
  11. Informal the advantage or handicap given an opponent
  12. ☆ Slang a nightclub
  13. ☆ 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
  5. to be located at various places in or on
  6. to shine a spotlight on
  7. 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
  9. to observe and report on (plays) as a spotter in sports
  10. ☆ 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
  2. made at random or according to an arbitrary sampling procedure a spot survey
  3. 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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms spot idiom

medical spot definition - medical

telecom SPOT definition - telecom

spot Synonyms

spot

modif.

prompt, ready, instantaneous; see immediate 1.


spot

n.

  1. A dot

    speck, flaw, pimple; see bit 1, blemish.

  2. A place

    point, locality, scene; see place 3.

  3. Small amount

    minute quantity, little bit, pinch; see bit 1.

hit the high spots*

  1. hurry, travel rapidly, make good time*; see speed.

  2. treat hastily, go over lightly, touch up;

hit the spot*

please, delight, taste good, be just right; see satisfy 1.

in a bad spot*

in danger, in trouble, in difficulty, threatened, in a bad situation, on the spot*; see also dangerous 1, 2.

on the spot

  1. Quickly

    immediately, now, at once; see immediately.

  2. *In trouble

    in danger, in difficulty, in a corner.


spot

v.

  1. Stain

    blemish, blotch, splatter; see dirty, spatter.

  2. Point out

    find, detect, recognize; see locate 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

spot Usage Examples

Object

  • mistake: If you know anything at all about databases you'll know everything that follows and will probably spot mistakes in it.

Converse of object

  • hit: Once you hit the top spot, there will have been millions of people who have read your mail.

Adjective modifier

  • hot: Last month the area was also made a ' hot spot ' for burglary.

Modifies a noun

  • kick: Sean Cronin and Jamie Rewbury scored spot kicks for City but the Bluebirds missed three times.

Noun used with modifier

  • runner-up: He may have only one championship, but three runners-up spots, and a cup record that is simply second to none.

Preposition: of

  • rain: Closing the album, just as the first fine spots of rain reach me, is ' Standing Around ' .

Preposition: for

  • picnic: The canal plays host to a variety of wildlife and it is an ideal spot for a picnic and a spot of fishing.
spot usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

spot quotes

His name was Shadow, short for ShadowThat Comes in Sight, an old Indian name, Apache or Cheyenne. I very much approved of this.You don't want dogs called Spot or Pooch.You don't want dogs called Nigel or Keith. The names of dogs should salute the mystical drama of the animal life. Shadowöthat's a good name.

-Amis, Martin Louis

Give me a firm spot on which to stand, and I shall move the earth.

-Archimedes

   Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves'eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. Thy teeth are like a flockof sheep that are evenshorn, whichcameup from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks. Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. Thy two breasts are liketwo young roesthat aretwins, which feed among the lilies.Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and tothehill of frankincense.Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

-Bible (Old Testament)

spot quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
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  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/spot

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