spot
spot [spot spots spotted spotting] noun, verb, adjective BrE [spɒt] NAmE [spɑːt]
noun
SMALL MARK
1. a small round area that has a different colour or feels different from the surface it is on
• Which has spots, the leopard or the tiger?
• The male bird has a red spot on its beak.
• (BrE)She was wearing a black skirt with white spots.
see also ↑beauty spot, ↑sunspot
2. a small dirty mark on sth
• His jacket was covered with spots of mud.
•rust spots
3. usually plural a small mark or lump on a person's skin, sometimes with a yellow head to it
• The baby's whole body was covered in small red spots.
• (BrE)teenagers worried about their spots
compare ↑pimple, ↑rash, ↑zit
PLACE
4. a particular area or place
•a quiet/secluded/lonely, etc. spot
• He showed me the exact spot where he had asked her to marry him.
• She stood rooted to the spot with fear (= unable to move).
•a tourist spot
•This is a favourite spot for walkers and climbers.
see also ↑black spot, ↑blind spot, ↑hot spot, ↑nightspot, ↑trouble spot
SMALL AMOUNT
5. usually singular ~ of sth (BrE, informal)a small amount of sth
Syn: ↑bit
•He's in a spot of trouble.
•Would you like a spot of lunch?
•She's gone out to do a spot of shopping.
6. usually plural ~ (of sth) a small amount of a liquid
•I felt a few spots of rain.
PART OF SHOW
7. a part of a television, radio, club or theatre show that is given to a particular entertainer or type of entertainment
•a guest/solo spot
IN COMPETITION
8. a position in a competition or an event
•two teams battling for top spot
LIGHT
9. (informal) = ↑spotlight
more at a/the bright spot at ↑bright adj., glued to the spot at ↑glue v., hit the spot at ↑hit v., knock spots off sb/sth at ↑knock v., a leopard cannot change its spots at ↑leopard, be riveted to the spot/ground at ↑rivet v., have a soft spot for sb/sth at ↑soft, a tight spot/corner at ↑tight
Word Origin:
Middle English: perhaps from Middle Dutch spotte. The sense ‘notice, recognize’ arose from the early 19th-cent. slang use ‘note as a suspect or criminal’.
Thesaurus:
spot noun
1. C
•a white dress with red spots
dot • • patch • • mark •
a spot/dot/patch/mark on sth
with spots/dots/patches/marks
a blue/black/red/etc. spot/dot/patch/mark
2. C
•His coat was covered with spots of mud.
mark • • speck • • blot • • stain •
a spot/mark/speck/blot/stain on sth
a spot/speck/blot of sth
an ink spot/mark/blot/stain
a grease spot/mark/stain
Synonyms:
mark
stain • fingerprint • streak • speck • blot • smear • spot
These are all words for a small area of dirt or another substance on a surface.
mark • a small area of dirt or other substance on the surface of sth, especially one that spoils its appearance: ▪ The kids left dirty marks all over the kitchen floor.
stain • a dirty mark on sth that is difficult to remove, especially one made by a liquid: ▪ blood stains
fingerprint • a mark on a surface made by the pattern of lines on the end of a person's finger, often used by the police to identify criminals: ▪ Her fingerprints were all over the gun.
streak • a long thin mark or line that is a different colour from the surface it is on: ▪ She had streaks of grey in her hair.
speck • a very small mark, spot or piece of a substance on sth: ▪ There isn't a ▪ speck of dust ▪ anywhere in the house.
blot • a spot or dirty mark left on sth by a substance such as ink or paint being dropped on a surface
smear • a mark made by sth such as oil or paint being spread or rubbed on a surface
spot • a small dirty mark on sth: ▪ There were grease spots all over the walls.
a streak/speck/blot/smear/spot of sth
a greasy mark/stain/smear
a/an ink mark/stain/blot/spot
a/an grease mark/stain/spot
to leave a mark/stain/fingerprint/streak/speck/blot/smear
Synonyms:
patch
dot • mark • spot
These are all words for a small part on a surface that is a different colour from the rest.
patch • an area of sth, especially one which is different from the area around it: ▪ a white dog with a black patch on its head ◇ ▪ patches of dense fog
dot • a small round mark on sth, especially one that is printed: ▪ The letters ‘i’ and ‘j’ have dots over them. ◇ ▪ The island is a small green dot on the map.
mark • a noticeable area of colour on the body of a person or animal: ▪ The horse had a white mark on its head.
spot • a small round area that is a different colour or feels different from the surface it is on: ▪ Which has spots, a leopard or a tiger?
a patch/dot/mark/spot on sth
with patches/dots/marks/spots
a blue/black/red, etc. patch/dot/mark/spot
Synonyms:
place
site • area • position • point • location • scene • spot • venue
These are all words for a particular area or part of an area, especially one used for a particular purpose or where sb/sth is situated or happens.
place • a particular point, area, city, town, building, etc, especially one used for a particular purpose or where a particular thing happens: ▪ This would be a good place for a picnic.
site • the place where sth, especially a building, is or will be situated; a place where sth happened or that is used for a particular purpose: ▪ They've chosen a site for the new school.
area • a part of a room, building or particular space that is used for a special purpose; a particular place on an object: ▪ the hotel reception area ◇ ▪ Move the cursor to a blank area on the screen.
position • the place where a person or thing is situated; the place where sb/sth is meant to be: ▪ From his position at the top of the hill, he could see the harbour.
The position of sb/sth is often temporary: the place where sb/sth is at a particular time.
point • a particular place within an area, where sth happens or is supposed to happen: ▪ the point at which the river divides
location • a place where sth happens or exists, especially a place that is not named or not known: ▪ The company is moving to a new location.
scene • a place where sth happens, especially sth unpleasant: ▪ the scene of the accident
spot • a particular point or area, especially one that has a particular character or where sth particular happens: ▪ The lake is one of the local ▪ beauty spots ▪.
venue • the place where people meet for an organized event such as a performance or sports event.
at a place/site/position/point/location/scene/spot/venue
in a(n) place/area/position/location/venue
the place/site/point/location/spot/venue where…
the right place/site/position/location/spot/venue
a central site/position/location/venue
the/sb's/sth's exact/precise place/site/position/point/location/spot
Example Bank:
•From his angry reply it was obvious that I had touched a sensitive spot.
•Glamorgan claimed the top spot in the League.
•He stood rooted to the spot, unable to move.
•He usually wears a hat to hide his bald spot.
•I have a blind spot where jazz is concerned.
•It's a beautiful spot to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
•It's easier to hit the sweet spot on larger-faced golf clubs.
•On your map, X marks the spot where the race begins.
•She had a small beauty spot on the left side of her face.
•She has earned a spot on the national team.
•She pointed to a spot on the map.
•Take the time to find the right spot to pitch your tent.
•That leaves one roster spot, and the team will need a versatile player to fill it.
•The Korean team secured two qualifying spots for the Olympic Games.
•The album quickly reached the number-one spot in the charts.
•The birth of my son was the one bright spot in a terrible year.
•The captain's knee injury leaves the team in a tight spot.
•The children all had measles, and had broken out in spots.
•The fire brigade was on the spot within minutes.
•The lake is one of the local beauty spots.
•They picked a good spot for a picnic.
•a favourite spot for picnickers
•one of the world's major trouble spots
•He has reported from several of the world's major trouble spots.
•He showed me the exact spot where he had asked her to marry him.
•He's in a spot of trouble.
•She stood rooted to the spot with fear.
•She was wearing a white dress with red spots.
•She'll always help you if you're in a spot.
•She's gone out to do a spot of shopping.
•That corner is a notorious accident black spot.
•There are miles of footpaths and plenty of secluded spots.
•There was a spot of rain in the afternoon, but otherwise the weather has been perfect.
•There were grease spots all over the walls.
•This could put the banks in a tight spot.
•We got into a spot of bother with the police.
•Which has spots, a leopard or a tiger?
Idioms: ↑in a spot ▪ ↑on the spot ▪ ↑put somebody on the spot ▪ ↑spotted with something
verb (-tt-)
1. (not used in the progressive tenses)to see or notice a person or thing, especially suddenly or when it is not easy to do so
•~ sb/sth I finally spotted my friend in the crowd.
•I've just spotted a mistake on the front cover.
•Can you spot the difference between these two pictures?
•Her modelling career began when she was spotted at the age of 14.
•Spotting the disease early can save lives.
•~ sb/sth doing sth Neighbours spotted smoke coming out of the house.
•~ that… No one spotted that the gun was a fake.
•~ what, where, etc… I soon spotted what the mistake was.
see also ↑spotter
2. ~ sb/sth sth (NAmE, sport)to give your opponent or the other team an advantage
•We spotted the opposing team two goals.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Middle English: perhaps from Middle Dutch spotte. The sense ‘notice, recognize’ arose from the early 19th-cent. slang use ‘note as a suspect or criminal’.
Synonyms:
see
spot • catch • glimpse
These words all mean to become aware of sb/sth by using your eyes, especially suddenly or when it is not easy to see them/it.
see • to become aware of sb/sth by using your eyes: ▪ She looked for him but couldn't see him in the crowd. ◇ ▪ He could see (that) she had been crying.
spot • to see or notice sb/sth, especially suddenly or when they are not easy to see or notice: ▪ I've just spotted a mistake on the front cover.
catch • to see or notice sth for a moment, but not clearly or completely: ▪ She ▪ caught sight ▪ of a car in the distance. ◇ ▪ He ▪ caught a glimpse ▪ of himself in the mirror.
glimpse • (literary) to see sb/sth for a moment, but not clearly or completely: ▪ He'd glimpsed her through the window as he passed.
to see/spot that/how/what/where/who…
to suddenly see/spot/catch/glimpse sb/sth
Example Bank:
•‘There's a parking space over there.’ ‘Well spotted!’
•Can you spot the difference between the two?
•He was only seven years old when someone first spotted his talent.
•Most of these fossils are too small to be easily spotted.
•The birds should be easy enough to spot.
•The company spotted an opportunity to expand.
•Her modelling career began when she was spotted by an agent at the age of 14.
•I've just spotted a mistake on the front cover.
adjective only before noun (business)
connected with a system of trading where goods are delivered and paid for immediately after sale
•spot prices
Word Origin:
Middle English: perhaps from Middle Dutch spotte. The sense ‘notice, recognize’ arose from the early 19th-cent. slang use ‘note as a suspect or criminal’.
See also: ↑in place
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