Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - spot

~1 n 1 »PLACE« a particular place or area, especially a pleasant place where you spend time  (an ideal spot for a picnic | We walked along the beach looking for a spot to sit. | camping/swimming/holiday spot (=a place that is suitable for a particular activity))  (We found several good camping spots by the river. | the exact/very/same spot (=the exact place where something happens) | a sunny/shady spot)  (These plants grow best in a sunny spot.)  (- see position1) 2 »AREA« a usually round area on a surface, that is a different colour or is rougher, smoother etc than the rest  (Dalmatian dogs have white coats with black or brown spots.) + of  (Her pink suit made a bright spot of colour against the white steps.) 3 »MARK« a small mark on something, especially one that is made by a liquid  (There are a lot of grease spots on the shirt. | spots of paint on the carpet) 4 on the spot if you do something on the spot, you do it immediately, often without thinking about it very carefully  (He bought the car on the spot. | The police could give you an on the spot fine.) 5 be on the spot to be in the place where something is happening  (As the man on the spot, Coen was in a position to take vital decisions.) 6 »MARK ON SKIN« a) a small round red area on someone's skin that shows that they are ill  (I was covered in spots when I had measles.) b) BrE a small raised red mark on someone's skin, especially on their face; pimple  (This cream clears up teenage spots in days.) 7 »POSITION« a position in a competition, event, television programme etc  (The Bulldogs earned a spot in the semi-finals. | A bluegrass band has the second spot on the program. | guest spot (=part of a television or radio programme showing someone who does not usually appear on the programme))  (a guest spot on the Johnny Carson show) 8 run/dance/hop etc on the spot to run etc in one place, without moving forwards or around the area 9 weak spot a) a point at which someone or something is not very good  (He'd look at my work and immediately find every weak spot.) b) AmE if someone has a weak spot for something, they like it very much 10 put sb on the spot to deliberately ask someone a question that is difficult or embarrassing to answer  (Reporters put the governor on the spot with questions about his involvement in the bribery scandal.) 11 in a spot informal in a difficult situation  (put sb in a spot)  (You've put us in one hell of a spot by telling them that, you know.) 12 bright spot something that is good in a bad situation  (the one/only bright spot)  (Being able to visit my folks was the one bright spot of the vacation.) 13 a spot of BrE informal a small amount of something  (I could do with a spot of whisky. | a spot of bother (=a small amount of trouble)) 14 »ON CLOTH« spots BrE small round areas that form a pattern on a piece of cloth; polka dots  (a dark blue dress with white spots) 15 spots of rain BrE a few drops of rain 16 »LIGHT« a spotlight1 (1) 17 five-spot/ten-spot etc AmE spoken a piece of paper money worth five dollars, ten dollars etc 18 »ADVERTISEMENT« a short radio or television advertisement, especially one for a politician  (a 30-second spot on the local radio station)  (- see also beauty spot, black spot, blind spot, not change your spots change1 (1), g­spot, high point/spot high1 (13), hit the spot hit1 (27), hot spot hot1 (30), knock spots off knock1 (13), be rooted to the spot root2 (4), have a soft spot for soft (10), trouble spot) ~2 v 1 »NOTICE« to notice something, especially something that is difficult to see, or that you are looking for  (Luckily, the enemy planes were spotted early. | I spotted a break in the fence and headed towards it. | spot sb doing sth)  (Meg spotted someone coming out of the building. | difficult/easy to spot)  (Dick's very tall, so he's easy to spot in a crowd.) 2 »RECOGNIZE« to recognize the good or bad qualities in someone or something  (You must learn to spot trouble ahead and prevent it. | spot sb's potential)  (Island Records were the first to spot his potential.) 3 be spotted to have small round marks on the surface  (The floor was spotted with paint.) 4 »GAME« AmE to give the other player in a game an advantage  (spot sb sth)  (He spotted me six points and he still won.) ~3 adj technical for buying or paying immediately, not at some future time  (spot cash/price)  (They won't take credit; they want spot cash. | What's the spot price for oil?)