spot Meaning & Definition
What Does Spot Mean?
Spot is used as a noun meaning A round or irregular patch on the surface of a thing having a different color, texture etc. and generally round in shape. It is also used to mean A stain or disfiguring mark. As a verb, it means To see, find; to pick out, notice, locate, distinguish or identify. As an adjective, it means Available on the spot; for immediate payment or delivery.
Spot in Brief
| Part of speech | noun, verb, adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //spɒt// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | point, touch and position |
| Plural | spots |
| Verb forms | spots, spotting, spotted |
Spot Definition (Noun)
- 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.
- A stain or disfiguring mark.
I have tried everything, and I can’t get this spot out.
- A pimple, papule or pustule.
That morning, I saw that a spot had come up on my chin.
- A symbol on a playing card, domino, die, etc. indicating its value; a pip.
- A small, unspecified amount or quantity.
Do come 'round on Sunday for a spot of tea, won't you?
- A bill of five-dollar or ten-dollar denomination in dollars.
Here's the twenty bucks I owe you, a ten spot and two five spots.
- A location or area.
I like to eat lunch in a pleasant spot outside.
- A parking space.
- An official determination of placement.
The fans were very unhappy with the referee's spot of the ball.
- A bright lamp; a spotlight.
- A brief advertisement or program segment on television.
Did you see the spot on the news about the shoelace factory?
- A difficult situation.
She was in a real spot when she ran into her separated husband while on a date.
- One who spots (supports or assists a maneuver, or is prepared to assist if safety dictates); a spotter.
- Penalty spot.
- The act of spotting or noticing something.
You've misspelled "terrapin" here. —Whoops. Good spot.
- A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot on its head just above the beak.
- A food fish (Leiostomus xanthurus) of the Atlantic coast of the United States, with a black spot behind the shoulders and fifteen oblique dark bars on the sides.
- The southern redfish, or red horse (Sciaenops ocellatus), which has a spot on each side at the base of the tail.
- Commodities, such as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate delivery.
- An autosoliton.
- A decimal point; point.
Twelve spot two five pounds sterling.
- Any of various points marked on the table, from which balls are played, in snooker, pool, billiards, etc.
- Any of the balls marked with spots in the game of pool, which one player aims to pot, the other player taking the stripes.
- An alcoholic drink.
Spot as a Verb
- To see, find; to pick out, notice, locate, distinguish or identify.
Try to spot the differences between these two pictures.
- To loan a small amount of money to someone.
I’ll spot you ten dollars for lunch.
- To stain; to leave a spot (on).
Hard water will spot if it is left on a surface.
- To cover with spots, to speckle.
- To experience vaginal spotting; to expel blood from the vagina.
- To rain slightly, in scattered, infrequent drops, for example when first beginning to rain.
- To remove, or attempt to remove, a stain.
I spotted the carpet where the child dropped spaghetti.
- To retouch a photograph on film to remove minor flaws.
- To support or assist a maneuver, or to be prepared to assist if safety dictates.
I can’t do a back handspring unless somebody spots me.
- To keep the head and eyes pointing in a single direction while turning.
Most figure skaters do not spot their turns like dancers do.
- To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation.
- To cut or chip (timber) in preparation for hewing.
- To place (an object) at a location indicated by a spot.
The referee had to spot the pink on the blue spot.
- Of a ball, to be capable of being placed on its own spot.
The black ball won't spot – the green is in the way.
- To position (an aircraft) on the deck of an aircraft carrier ready for launch by catapult.
- To position (a locomotive or car) at a predetermined point, e.g., for loading or unloading.
Spot as an Adjective
- Available on the spot; for immediate payment or delivery.
spot wheat
- Exact; precise.
The other bus meets yours at the intersection within one minute; it's a spot connection, and you might not make it.
Noun
- Difficult situation; predicament.
She was in a real spot when she ran into her separated husband while on a date.
- (in the plural, brokers' slang) Commodities, such as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate delivery.
Verb
- To place an object at a location indicated by a spot. Notably in billiards or snooker.
The referee had to spot the pink on the blue spot.
Synonyms of Spot
Antonyms of Spot
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Spot in a Sentence
The leopard is noted for the spots of color in its fur.
Why do ladybugs have spots?
I have tried everything, and I can’t get this spot out.
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.
Do come 'round on Sunday for a spot of tea, won't you?
Here's the twenty bucks I owe you, a ten spot and two five spots.
I like to eat lunch in a pleasant spot outside.
For our anniversary we went back to the same spot where we first met.
The fans were very unhappy with the referee's spot of the ball.
Did you see the spot on the news about the shoelace factory?
She was in a real spot when she ran into her separated husband while on a date.
You've misspelled "terrapin" here. —Whoops. Good spot.
Twelve spot two five pounds sterling.
Try to spot the differences between these two pictures.
I’ll spot you ten dollars for lunch.
Hard water will spot if it is left on a surface.
a garment spotted with mould
I spotted the carpet where the child dropped spaghetti.
I can’t do a back handspring unless somebody spots me.
Most figure skaters do not spot their turns like dancers do.
The referee had to spot the pink on the blue spot.
The black ball won't spot – the green is in the way.
spot wheat
spot cash
a spot contract
The other bus meets yours at the intersection within one minute; it's a spot connection, and you might not make it.
Would you like to come round on Sunday for a spot of lunch?
- Whoops. Good spot.
Twelve spot two five pounds sterling. (ie. £12.25)
spot wheat; spot cash; a spot contract
Word Forms & Grammar
spot (plural spots)
spot (third-person singular simple present spots, present participle spotting, simple past and past participle spotted)
spot (not comparable)
Words That Rhyme With Spot
Origin of Spot
Origin 1: From Middle English spot, spotte, partially from Middle Dutch spotte (“spot, speck”), and partially merging with Middle English splot, from Old English splott (“spot, plot of land”), from Proto-West Germanic *splott, from Proto-Germanic *spluttaz (“segment”), from Proto-Indo-European *splt-no- (“an off-split, segment”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pel- (“to split”).
Origin 2: Cognate with North Frisian spot (“speck, piece of ground”), Low German spot (“speck”), Old Norse spotti (“small piece”). See also splot, splotch.
Pronouncing Spot
The standard pronunciation of spot is //spɒt//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spot
Is spot a noun or a verb?
Spot is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb and an adjective.
What is another word for spot?
You can replace spot with words such as point, touch and position. See the full list of spot synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of spot?
The plural of spot is spots.
What is the past tense of spot?
The past tense of spot is spotted. The present participle is spotting.