spot

Etymology

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”). Cognate with North Frisian spot (“speck, piece of ground”), Low German spot (“speck”), Old Norse spotti (“small piece”). See also splot, splotch.

noun

1. 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.
   Why do ladybugs have spots?
2. A stain or disfiguring mark.
   I have tried everything, and I can’t get this spot out.
3. A pimple, papule or pustule.
   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.
4. A symbol on a playing card, domino, die, etc. indicating its value; a pip.
5. A small, unspecified amount or quantity.
   Do come 'round on Sunday for a spot of tea, won't you?
6. (slang, US) 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.
7. A location or area.
   I like to eat lunch in a pleasant spot outside.
   For our anniversary we went back to the same spot where we first met.
   "A jolly place," said he, "in times of old! / But something ails it now: the spot is curs'd." 1800, William Wordsworth, Hart-leap Well
   Yachvilli made it 6-0 with a second sweet strike from 45 metres after Matt Stevens was penalised for collapsing a scrum, and then slid another penalty just wide from the same spot. 2011, Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France
8. A parking space.
   Del Valle has the blessing of a garage, so he doesn't have to claim “dibs” on shoveled street spots himself, he said. March 23, 2011, “We asked mayoral candidates: Do you support 'dibs' on parking spots?”, in Chicago Sun-Times
9. (sports) An official determination of placement.
   The fans were very unhappy with the referee's spot of the ball.
10. A bright lamp; a spotlight.
11. (US, advertising) A brief advertisement or program segment on television.
    Did you see the spot on the news about the shoelace factory?
12. A difficult situation.
    She was in a real spot when she ran into her separated husband while on a date.
13. (gymnastics, dance, weightlifting) One who spots (supports or assists a maneuver, or is prepared to assist if safety dictates); a spotter.
14. (soccer) Penalty spot.
    The Gunners dominated for long periods but, against the run of play, Denilson fouled Max Gradel and Robert Snodgrass put Leeds ahead from the spot. January 8, 2011, Chris Bevan, “Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds”, in BBC
15. The act of spotting or noticing something.
    You've misspelled "terrapin" here. —Whoops. Good spot.
16. A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot on its head just above the beak.
17. 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.
18. The southern redfish, or red horse (Sciaenops ocellatus), which has a spot on each side at the base of the tail.
19. (in the plural, brokers' slang, dated) Commodities, such as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate delivery.
20. An autosoliton.
21. (finance) A decimal point; point.
    Twelve spot two five pounds sterling. ― £12.25
22. Any of various points marked on the table, from which balls are played, in snooker, pool, billiards, etc.
23. Any of the balls marked with spots in the game of pool, which one player aims to pot, the other player taking the stripes.

verb

1. (transitive) To see, find; to pick out, notice, locate, distinguish or identify.
   Try to spot the differences between these two pictures.
   The campaign aimed to give commuters the confidence to trust their own instincts and intervene if they spot someone vulnerable who may be at risk of suicide, and to talk to them to interrupt their suicidal thoughts. July 1 2020, Ruth Sutherland, Neil Peters, “Answering the call”, in Rail, page 47
2. (US, slang) To loan a small amount of money to someone.
   I’ll spot you ten dollars for lunch.
   It’s close to payday, but you’re welcome to what I have. Maybe Wickliffe can spot me a few. 2018, Tayari Jones, An American Marriage, Oneworld Publications, page 185
3. (transitive, intransitive) To stain; to leave a spot (on).
   Hard water will spot if it is left on a surface.
   a garment spotted with mould
4. To remove, or attempt to remove, a stain.
   I spotted the carpet where the child dropped spaghetti.
5. To retouch a photograph on film to remove minor flaws.
6. (gymnastics, dance, weightlifting, climbing) 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.
7. (dance) To keep the head and eyes pointing in a single direction while turning.
   Most figure skaters do not spot their turns like dancers do.
8. To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation.
9. To cut or chip (timber) in preparation for hewing.
10. (transitive, chiefly snooker and billiards) To place an object at a location indicated by a spot.
    The referee had to spot the pink on the blue spot.
11. (aviation, military, transitive) To position (an aircraft) on the deck of an aircraft carrier ready for launch by catapult.
    The aircraft is spotted on the catapult, and the console operator turns the crank to FIRST READY, causing the exhaust valve to close. 1959, Aviation Boatswain's Mate 3 & 2: Navy Training Courses, United States. Bureau of Naval Personnel, page 315
    This spotting order varies from carrier to carrier to suit the flight-deck layout. Certain aircraft must be spotted in a specific location to permit servicing, loading of ammunition, starting, maintenance, and so forth. 1990, Mike Harvell, Airman, pages 9–37
12. (rail transport, transitive) To position (a locomotive or car) at a predetermined point, e.g., for loading or unloading.

adj

1. (commerce, finance) Available on the spot; for immediate payment or delivery.
   spot wheat
   spot cash
   a spot contract