Adjacent Words

Spot definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SPOT, n. [We see this word is of the family of spatter, and that the radical sense is to throw or thrust. A spot is made by spattering or sprinkling.
1. A mark on a substance made by foreign matter; a speck; a blot; a place discolored. The least spot is visible on white paper.
2. A stain on character or reputation; something that soils purity; disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish.
Yet Chloe sure was formd without a spot.
See 1 Pet
1:17, Eph
5:27.
3. A small extent of space; a place; any particular place.
The spot to which I point is paradise.
Fixd to one spot.
So we say, a spot of ground, a spot of grass or flowers; meaning a place of small extent.
4. A place of a different color from the ground; as the spots of a leopard.
5. A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot on its head just above its beak.
6. A dark place on the disk or face of the sun or of a planet.
7. A lucid place in the heavens.
Upon the spot, immediately; before moving; without changing place. [So the French say, sur le champ.]
It was determined upon the spot.
SPOT, v.t.
1. To make a visible mark with some foreign matter; to discolor; to stain; as, to spot a garment; to spot paper.
2. To patch by way of ornament.
3. To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish; as reputation.
My virgin life no spotted thoughts shall stain.
To stop timber, is to cut or chip it, in preparation for hewing.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a point located with respect to surface features of some region; "this is a nice place for a picnic"; "a bright spot on a planet" [syn: topographic point, place, spot]
2: a short section or illustration (as between radio or tv programs or in a magazine) that is often used for advertising
3: an outstanding characteristic; "his acting was one of the high points of the movie" [syn: point, spot]
4: a blemish made by dirt; "he had a smudge on his cheek" [syn: smudge, spot, blot, daub, smear, smirch, slur]
5: a small contrasting part of something; "a bald spot"; "a leopard's spots"; "a patch of clouds"; "patches of thin ice"; "a fleck of red" [syn: spot, speckle, dapple, patch, fleck, maculation]
6: a section of an entertainment that is assigned to a specific performer or performance; "they changed his spot on the program"
7: a business establishment for entertainment; "night spot"
8: a job in an organization; "he occupied a post in the treasury" [syn: position, post, berth, office, spot, billet, place, situation]
9: a slight attack of illness; "he has a touch of rheumatism" [syn: touch, spot]
10: a small piece or quantity of something; "a spot of tea"; "a bit of paper"; "a bit of lint"; "I gave him a bit of my mind" [syn: spot, bit]
11: a mark on a die or on a playing card (shape depending on the suit) [syn: spot, pip]
12: a lamp that produces a strong beam of light to illuminate a restricted area; used to focus attention of a stage performer [syn: spotlight, spot]
13: a playing card with a specified number of pips on it to indicate its value; "an eight-spot"
14: an act that brings discredit to the person who does it; "he made a huge blot on his copybook" [syn: blot, smear, smirch, spot, stain] v
1: catch sight of [syn: descry, spot, espy, spy]
2: detect with the senses; "The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards"; "I can't make out the faces in this photograph" [syn: spot, recognize, recognise, distinguish, discern, pick out, make out, tell apart]
3: mar or impair with a flaw; "her face was blemished" [syn: blemish, spot]
4: make a spot or mark onto; "The wine spotted the tablecloth" [syn: spot, fleck, blob, blot]
5: become spotted; "This dress spots quickly"
6: mark with a spot or spots so as to allow easy recognition; "spot the areas that one should clearly identify"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch spotte stain, speck, Old Norse spotti small piece Date: 13th century 1. a taint on character or reputation ; fault <the only spot on the family name> 2. a. a small area visibly different (as in color, finish, or material) from the surrounding area b. (1) an area marred or marked (as by dirt) (2) a circumscribed surface lesion of disease (as measles) or decay <spots of rot> <rust spots on a leaf> c. a conventionalized design used on playing cards to distinguish the suits and indicate values 3. an object having a specified number of spots or a specified numeral on its surface 4. a small quantity or amount ; bit 5. a. a particular place, area, or part b. a small extent of space 6. plural usually spot a small croaker (Leiostomus xanthurus) of the Atlantic coast with a black spot behind the opercula 7. a. a particular position (as in an organization or a hierarchy) b. a place or appearance on an entertainment program 8. spotlight 9. a position usually of difficulty or embarrassment 10. a brief announcement or advertisement broadcast between scheduled radio or television programs 11. a brief segment or report on a broadcast especially of news II. verb (spotted; spotting) Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to stain the character or reputation of ; disgrace 2. to mark in or with a spot ; stain 3. to locate or identify by a spot 4. a. to single out ; identify; especially to note as a known criminal or a suspicious person b. detect, notice <spot a mistake> c. (1) to locate accurately <spot an enemy position> (2) to cause to strike accurately <spot the battery's fire> 5. a. to lie at intervals in or over ; stud b. to place at intervals or in a desired spot <spot field telephones> c. to fix in or as if in the beam of a spotlight d. to schedule in a particular spot or at a particular time 6. to remove a spot from 7. to allow as a handicap intransitive verb 1. to become stained or discolored in spots 2. to cause a spot 3. to act as a spotter; especially to locate targets 4. to experience abnormal and sporadic bleeding in small amounts from the uterus • spottable adjective III. adjective Date: 1881 1. a. being, originating, or done on the spot or in or for a particular spot <spot coverage of the news> b. available for immediate delivery after sale <spot commodities> c. (1) paid out upon delivery <spot cash> (2) involving immediate cash payment <a spot transaction> d. (1) broadcast between scheduled programs <spot announcements> (2) originating in a local station for a national advertiser e. performing occasionally when needed <chance of making the…varsity as a spot starter and relief pitcher — N. Y. Times> 2. made at random or restricted to a few places or instances <a spot check>; also selected at random or as a sample

U.S. Military Dictionary

1. To determine by observation, deviations of ordnance from the target for the purpose of supplying necessary information for the adjustment of fire. 2. To place in a proper location. 3. An approved shipboard helicopter landing site. See also ordnance. (JP 3-04)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a a small part of the surface of a thing distinguished by colour, texture, etc., usu. round or less elongated than a streak or stripe (a blue tie with pink spots). b a small mark or stain. c a pimple. d a small circle or other shape used in various numbers to distinguish faces of dice, playing-cards in a suit, etc. e a moral blemish or stain (without a spot on his reputation). 2 a a particular place; a definite locality (dropped it on this precise spot; the spot where William III landed). b a place used for a particular activity (often in comb.: nightspot). c (prec. by the) Football the place from which a penalty kick is taken. 3 a particular part of one's body or aspect of one's character. 4 a colloq. one's esp. regular position in an organization, programme of events, etc. b a place or position in a performance or show (did the spot before the interval). 5 Brit. a colloq. a small quantity of anything (a spot of lunch; a spot of trouble). b a drop (a spot of rain). c colloq. a drink. 6 = SPOTLIGHT. 7 (usu. attrib.) money paid or goods delivered immediately after a sale (spot cash; spot silver). 8 Billiards etc. a a small round black patch to mark the position where a ball is placed at certain times. b (in full spot-ball) the white ball distinguished from the other by two black spots. --v. (spotted, spotting) 1 tr. a colloq. single out beforehand (the winner of a race etc.). b colloq. recognize the identity, nationality, etc., of (spotted him at once as the murderer). c watch for and take note of (trains, talent, etc.). d colloq. catch sight of. e Mil. locate (an enemy's position), esp. from the air. 2 a tr. & intr. mark or become marked with spots. b tr. stain, soil (a person's character etc.). 3 intr. make spots, rain slightly (it was spotting with rain). 4 tr. Billiards place (a ball) on a spot. Phrases and idioms: in a spot (or in a tight etc. spot) colloq. in difficulty. on the spot 1 at the scene of an action or event. 2 colloq. in a position such that response or action is required. 3 without delay or change of place, then and there. 4 (of a person) wide awake, equal to the situation, in good form at a game etc. put on the spot US sl. decide to murder. running on the spot raising the feet alternately as in running but without moving forwards or backwards. spot check a test made on the spot or on a randomly-selected subject. spot height 1 the altitude of a point. 2 a figure on a map showing this. spot on Brit. colloq. adj. precise; on target. --adv. precisely. spot weld a weld made in spot welding. spot-weld v.tr. join by spot welding. spot welder a person or device that spot-welds. spot welding welding two surfaces together in a series of discrete points. Etymology: ME, perh. f. MDu. spotte, LG spot, ON spotti small piece

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spot Spot, a. Lit., being on the spot, or place; hence (Com.), on hand for immediate delivery after sale; -- said of commodities; as, spot wheat.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spot Spot, v. i. To become stained with spots.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spot Spot, n. [Cf. Scot. & D. spat, Dan. spette, Sw. spott spittle, slaver; from the root of E. spit. See Spit to eject from the mouth, and cf. Spatter.] 1. A mark on a substance or body made by foreign matter; a blot; a place discolored. Out, damned spot! Out, I say! --Shak. 2. A stain on character or reputation; something that soils purity; disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish. Yet Chloe, sure, was formed without a spot. --Pope. 3. A small part of a different color from the main part, or from the ground upon which it is; as, the spots of a leopard; the spots on a playing card. 4. A small extent of space; a place; any particular place. ``Fixed to one spot.'' --Otway. That spot to which I point is Paradise. --Milton. ``A jolly place,'' said he, ``in times of old! But something ails it now: the spot is cursed.'' --Wordsworth. 5. (Zo["o]l.) A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot on its head just above its beak. 6. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A sci[ae]noid food fish (Liostomus xanthurus) of the Atlantic coast of the United States. It has a black spot behind the shoulders and fifteen oblique dark bars on the sides. Called also goody, Lafayette, masooka, and old wife. (b) The southern redfish, or red horse, which has a spot on each side at the base of the tail. See Redfish. 7. pl. Commodities, as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate delivery. [Broker's Cant] Crescent spot (Zo["o]l.), any butterfly of the family Melit[ae]id[ae] having crescent-shaped white spots along the margins of the red or brown wings. Spot lens (Microscopy), a condensing lens in which the light is confined to an annular pencil by means of a small, round diaphragm (the spot), and used in dark-field ilumination; -- called also spotted lens. Spot rump (Zo["o]l.), the Hudsonian godwit (Limosa h[ae]mastica). Spots on the sun. (Astron.) See Sun spot, ander Sun. On, or Upon, the spot, immediately; before moving; without changing place. It was determined upon the spot. --Swift. Syn: Stain; flaw; speck; blot; disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish; place; site; locality.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spot Spot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Spotting.] 1. To make visible marks upon with some foreign matter; to discolor in or with spots; to stain; to cover with spots or figures; as, to spot a garnment; to spot paper. 2. To mark or note so as to insure recognition; to recognize; to detect; as, to spot a criminal. [Cant] 3. To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation; to asperse. My virgin life no spotted thoughts shall stain. --Sir P. Sidney. If ever I shall close these eyes but once, May I live spotted for my perjury. --Beau. & Fl. To spot timber, to cut or chip it, in preparation for hewing.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(spots, spotting, spotted) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. Spots are small, round, coloured areas on a surface. The leaves have yellow areas on the top and underneath are powdery orange spots... The swimsuit comes in navy with white spots or blue with green spots. N-COUNT: usu pl 2. Spots on a person's skin are small lumps or marks. Never squeeze blackheads, spots or pimples. N-COUNT: usu pl 3. A spot of a liquid is a small amount of it. (mainly BRIT) Spots of rain had begun to fall... N-COUNT: N of n 4. If you have a spot of something, you have a small amount of it. (mainly BRIT) Mr Brooke is undoubtedly in a spot of bother... We've given all the club members tea, coffee and a spot of lunch. = bit QUANT: QUANT of n-uncount 5. You can refer to a particular place as a spot. They stayed at several of the island's top tourist spots... They all stood there staring, as if frozen to the spot. N-COUNT: usu supp N 6. A spot in a television or radio show is a part of it that is regularly reserved for a particular performer or type of entertainment. Unsuccessful at screen writing, he got a spot on a CNN film show. = slot N-COUNT: usu with supp 7. If you spot something or someone, you notice them. Vicenzo failed to spot the error... VERB: V n see also spotted, black spot, blind spot 8. If you are on the spot, you are at the actual place where something is happening. ...areas where troops are on the spot and protecting civilians... PHRASE: v-link PHR 9. If you do something on the spot, you do it immediately. James was called to see the producer and got the job on the spot... PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR n 10. If you put someone on the spot, you cause them to have to answer a difficult question or make a difficult decision. He put me on the spot a bit because he invited me right in front of his mum and I didn't particularly want to go... Even clever people are not terribly clever when put on the spot. PHRASE: V inflects 11. rooted to the spot: see rooted to have a soft spot for someone: see soft

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Speck, blot, mark, speckle. 2. Blemish, stain, taint, flaw. 3. Disgrace, reproach, fault, blemish, flaw. 4. Place, locality, site. II. v. a. 1. Make spots on, dapple, variegate. 2. Stain, sully, soil tarnish, blemish. 3. Disgrace, stain, sully, soil, tarnish, blemish. 4. (Cant term.) Mark, take special note of, note.

Moby Thesaurus

CRT spot, DM display, Doppler signal, IF signal, IM display, RF echoes, abode, ace, acne, aimless, allocate, appointment, arc, arc light, area, ascertain, aspersion, assign, atom, attaint, badge of infamy, band, bar, bar sinister, baton, beam, bearings, beat signal, bedabble, bedaub, behold, bench mark, bend sinister, berth, besmear, besmirch, besmutch, besoil, bespangle, bespatter, bespeckle, bespot, besprinkle, billet, bind, birthmark, bit, bite, black, black eye, black mark, blacken, blaze, blaze a trail, blemish, blips, bloodstain, blot, blotch, blur, boils, bounces, box, brand, bread, broad arrow, case, caste mark, catch, catch sight of, censure, chalk up, champain, check, check off, checker, checkmark, cicatrix, cicatrize, circumstance, clap eyes on, clutch, collocate, color filter, commercial, commercial announcement, complication, condition, connection, corner, crumb, crunch, cut, dab, dabble, dapple, dappledness, dappleness, dash, daub, define, delimit, demarcate, deploy, descry, designless, detect, determinate, diagnose, dilemma, dimmer, dirty, discern, discolor, discoloration, discover, disparagement, display, dispose, distinguish, district, dole, dollop, dot, dottedness, double-dot display, draft, dram, dredge, drench, dribble, driblet, drink, drop, dust, dwarf, earmark, echo, echo signal, embarrassing position, embarrassment, emplace, emplacement, encounter, engrave, engraving, eruptions, espy, estate, eyesore, farthing, fine how-do-you-do, finger, fix, flake, fleck, flick, floats, flood, floodlight, flour, flyspeck, footing, footlights, foots, fragment, freckle, freckliness, gargle, gash, gelatin, get a fix, glimpse, gobbet, grain, granule, graving, groat, guzzle, hack, hair, handful, haphazard, harlequin, hatch, have, have in sight, hell to pay, hit, hit-or-miss, hobble, hole, home in on, home on, hot water, how-do-you-do, identify, imbroglio, impress, imprint, imputation, install, intersperse, iota, iris, irregular, jam, jigger, jolt, jot, ken, klieg light, know, know again, latitude and longitude, lay eyes on, lentigo, libation, lieu, light plot, lights, limelight, line, little, little bit, lob, local oscillator signal, locale, locality, localize, locate, location, locus, look on, look upon, lot, lota, macula, maculate, maculation, macule, make a mark, make out, map, marble, marbleize, mark, mark of Cain, mark off, mark out, marking, marquee, medium, meet with, mess, minim, minimum, minutiae, mite, mix, modality, mode, modicum, mole, molecule, morass, morsel, mote, motley, mottle, mottledness, nail, navigate, nevus, nick, nip, notch, notice, nutshell, observe, odium, office, onus, ounce, output signal, parlous straits, particle, pass, patch, pebble, peg, pencil, pepper, perceive, pick out, pick up, pickle, picture, pillorying, pimple, pin down, pinch, pinpoint, pips, pittance, place, placement, plight, plug, point, point champain, pointillage, pointillism, polka dot, polychrome, polychromize, position, post, posture, potation, potion, powder, predicament, pretty pass, pretty pickle, pretty predicament, prick, print, pull, punch, punctuate, puncture, put in place, quagmire, quandary, quarter, quicksand, radar signal, rainbow, rank, reading, realize, recall knowledge of, receive, recognize, reflection, region, reidentify, reprimand, reproach, return, return signal, riddle, round, round of drinks, scan, scar, scarification, scarify, scene, score, scotch, scrape, scratch, scratching, scruple, seal, seam, section, sector, see, sense, setting, shot, sight, signal, signal display, single out, sip, site, situate, situation, situs, slapdash, slough, slubber, slug, slur, smear, smidgen, smidgin, smirch, smitch, smouch, smudge, smut, smutch, snifter, snort, soil, soilage, soilure, spangle, spatter, speck, speckle, speckliness, splash, splatter, splotch, spoonful, spot announcement, spotlight, spots, spottedness, spottiness, spray, sprinkle, spy, squeeze, stain, stamp, standing, state, station, status, stead, stew, sticky wicket, stigma, stigmatism, stigmatization, stigmatize, stipple, stippledness, stippling, strait, straits, strawberry mark, streak, striate, stripe, stud, suck, sully, sup, swamp, sweep, swig, swill, taint, take in, target image, tarnish, tattoo, tattoo mark, tell, tessellate, thimbleful, tick, tick off, tight spot, tight squeeze, tightrope, tiny bit, tittle, tot, trace, transmitter signal, triangulate, tricky spot, trifling amount, trigger, trivia, tune in, turn up, twig, unconsidered, underline, underscore, unholy mess, unplanned, variegate, vein, video signal, view, watermark, wet, where, whereabout, whereabouts, whit, witness, zero in on