spot

noun

• 1a small round or roundish mark, differing in colour or texture from the surface around it:ladybirds have black spots on their red wing covers
• a small mark or stain:a spot of mildew on the wall
• a blemish on someone’s character or reputation.
• chiefly North American a pip on a domino, playing card, or dice.

• 2a particular place or point:a nice secluded spot an ideal picnic spot
• [with adjective or noun modifier] a small feature or part of something with a particular quality:his bald spot there was one bright spot in a night of dismal failure
• short for penalty spot.
• a ranking:the runner-up spot
• a place for an individual item within a show:she couldn’t do her usual singing spot in the club

• 3a pimple.

• 4 informal, chiefly British a small amount of something:a spot of rain a spot of bother flared up
• dated a small alcoholic drink:may I offer you a spot?

• 5 [as modifier] denoting a system of trading in which commodities or currencies are delivered and paid for immediately after a sale:trading in the spot markets the current spot price

• 6short for spotlight.

• 7 (also spot board) a board for working plaster before application.

• 8 [in combination] informal, chiefly North American a banknote of a specified value:a ten-spot

verb (spots, spotting, spotted)

• 1see, notice, or recognize (someone or something) that is difficult to detect or that one is searching for:Andrew spotted the advert in the paper the men were spotted by police
• recognize that (someone) has a particular talent, especially for sport or show business:we were spotted by a talent scout
• British observe and note the details of (a certain class of thing) as a hobby:women don’t collect stamps or spot trains
• [no object] Military locate an enemy’s position, typically from the air:they were spotting for enemy aircraft
• (in weight training, gymnastics, etc.) observe (a performer) in order to minimize the risk of accidents or injuries.

• 2mark or become marked with spots: [with object]:the velvet was spotted with stains
• [with object] cover (a surface or area) thinly:thorn trees spotted the land
• [with object] archaic stain or sully the moral character or qualities of: they might be spotted merely with the errors introduced by Luther

• 3 [no object] (it spots, it is spotting, etc.) rain slightly:it was still spotting with rain

• 4place (a ball) on its designated starting point on a billiard table.

• 5 [with two objects] North American informal give or lend (money) to (someone):I’ll spot you $300
• allow (an advantage) to (someone) in a game or sport:the higher-rated team spots the lower-rated team the difference in their handicaps