spɔt 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. øin 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. [ME, perh. f. MDu. spotte, LG spot, ON spotti small piece]