SPOT (spotted, spotting)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does spot mean? 

• SPOT (noun)
  The noun SPOT has 14 senses:

1. a point located with respect to surface features of some region

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

4. a blemish made by dirt

5. a small contrasting part of something

6. a section of an entertainment that is assigned to a specific performer or performance

7. a business establishment for entertainment

8. a job in an organization

9. a slight attack of illness

10. a small piece or quantity of something

11. a mark on a die or on a playing card (shape depending on the suit)

12. a lamp that produces a strong beam of light to illuminate a restricted area; used to focus attention of a stage performer

13. a playing card with a specified number of pips on it to indicate its value

14. an act that brings discredit to the person who does it

  Familiarity information: SPOT used as a noun is familiar.

• SPOT (verb)
  The verb SPOT has 6 senses:

1. catch sight of

2. detect with the senses

3. mar or impair with a flaw

4. make a spot or mark onto

5. become spotted

6. mark with a spot or spots so as to allow easy recognition

  Familiarity information: SPOT used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPOT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A point located with respect to surface features of some region

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

place; spot; topographic point

Context example:

a bright spot on a planet

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

point (the precise location of something; a spatially limited location)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spot"):

grave; tomb (a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone))

junction (the place where two or more things come together)

birthplace; place of birth (the place where someone was born)

polling place; polling station (a place where voters go to cast their votes in an election)

end (one of two places from which people are communicating to each other)

hiding place (a place suitable for hiding something (such as yourself))

heights; high (a high place)

hole-in-the-wall (a small unpretentious out-of-the-way place)

holy; holy place; sanctum (a sacred place of pilgrimage)

mecca (a place that attracts many visitors)

nesting place (a place suitable for nesting)

overlook (a high place affording a good view)

crest; crown; peak; summit; tip; top (the top or extreme point of something (usually a mountain or hill))

rendezvous (a place where people meet)

scour (a place that is scoured (especially by running water))

service area (place on a highway providing garage services and eating and toilet facilities)

showplace (a place that is frequently exhibited and visited for its historical interest or natural beauty)

solitude (a solitary place)

stop (a spot where something halts or pauses)

target; target area (the location of the target that is to be hit)

pool; puddle (something resembling a pool of liquid)

zone (a locally circumscribed place characterized by some distinctive features)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A short section or illustration (as between radio or tv programs or in a magazine) that is often used for advertising

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

section; subdivision (a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical))

Sense 3

Meaning:

An outstanding characteristic

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

point; spot

Context example:

his acting was one of the high points of the movie

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

characteristic (a distinguishing quality)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A blemish made by dirt

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

blot; daub; slur; smear; smirch; smudge; spot

Context example:

he had a smudge on his cheek

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

blemish; defect; mar (a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person's body))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spot"):

blotch; splodge; splotch (an irregularly shaped spot)

fingermark; fingerprint (a smudge made by a (dirty) finger)

inkblot (a blot made with ink)

Derivation:

spot (become spotted)

spot (make a spot or mark onto)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A small contrasting part of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

dapple; fleck; maculation; patch; speckle; spot

Context example:

a fleck of red

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

marking (a pattern of marks)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spot"):

pinpoint; speck (a very small spot)

nebula ((pathology) a faint cloudy spot on the cornea)

splash (a patch of bright color)

fret; worn spot (a spot that has been worn away by abrasion or erosion)

plaque ((pathology) a small abnormal patch on or inside the body)

macula; macule (a patch of skin that is discolored but not usually elevated; caused by various diseases)

mock sun; parhelion; sundog (a bright spot on the parhelic circle; caused by diffraction by ice crystals)

macula; sunspot (a cooler darker spot appearing periodically on the sun's photosphere; associated with a strong magnetic field)

facula; solar facula (a large bright spot on the sun's photosphere occurring most frequently in the vicinity of sunspots)

facula (a bright spot on a planet)

Derivation:

spot (mark with a spot or spots so as to allow easy recognition)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A section of an entertainment that is assigned to a specific performer or performance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

they changed his spot on the program

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

section; subdivision (a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical))

Sense 7

Meaning:

A business establishment for entertainment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

night spot

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

business establishment; place of business (an establishment (a factory or an assembly plant or retail store or warehouse etc.) where business is conducted, goods are made or stored or processed or where services are rendered)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spot"):

cabaret; club; night club; nightclub; nightspot (a spot that is open late at night and that provides entertainment (as singers or dancers) as well as dancing and food and drink)

clip joint (a place of entertainment where high prices are charged for poor entertainment)

hot spot; hotspot (a lively entertainment spot)

joint (a disreputable place of entertainment)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A job in an organization

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

berth; billet; office; place; position; post; situation; spot

Context example:

he occupied a post in the treasury

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

business; job; line; line of work; occupation (the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spot"):

academicianship (the position of member of an honorary academy)

accountantship (the position of accountant)

admiralty (the office of admiral)

ambassadorship (the post of ambassador)

apostleship (the position of apostle)

apprenticeship (the position of apprentice)

associateship (the position of associate (as in an office or academy))

attorneyship (the position of attorney)

bailiffship (the office of bailiff)

baronetage (the state of a baronet)

bishopry; episcopate (the office and dignity of a bishop)

cadetship (the position of cadet)

caliphate (the office of a caliph)

captaincy; captainship (the post of captain)

cardinalate; cardinalship (the office of cardinal)

chairmanship (the position of chairman)

chancellorship (the office of chancellor)

chaplaincy; chaplainship (the position of chaplain)

chieftaincy; chieftainship (the position of chieftain)

clerkship (the job of clerk)

commandership; commandery (the position or office of commander)

comptrollership (the position of comptroller)

consulship (the post of consul)

controllership (the position of controller)

councillorship; councilorship (the position of council member)

counsellorship; counselorship (the position of counselor)

curacy (the position of a curate)

curatorship (the position of curator)

custodianship (the position of custodian)

deanery; deanship (the position or office of a dean)

directorship (the position of a director of a business concern)

discipleship (the position of disciple)

editorship (the position of editor)

eldership (the office of elder)

emirate (the office of an emir)

fatherhood (the status of a father)

fatherhood (the status of a religious leader)

foremanship (the position of foreman)

generalcy; generalship (the office and authority of a general)

governorship (the office of governor)

headship (the position of head)

headship (the position of headmaster or headmistress)

hot seat (a difficult position where you are subjected to stress and criticism)

incumbency (the office of an incumbent)

inspectorship (the office of inspector)

instructorship (the position of instructor)

internship (the position of a medical intern)

judgeship; judicature (the position of judge)

khanate (the position of a khan)

lectureship (the post of lecturer)

legateship; legation (the post or office of legate)

legislatorship (the office of legislator)

librarianship (the position of librarian)

lieutenancy (the position of a lieutenant)

magistracy; magistrature (the position of magistrate)

managership (the position of manager)

manhood (the status of being a man)

marshalship (the post of marshall)

mastership (the position of master)

mayoralty (the position of mayor)

messiahship (the position of messiah)

moderatorship (the position of moderator)

overlordship (the position of overlord)

pastorate; pastorship (the position of pastor)

peasanthood (the state of being a peasant)

plum (a highly desirable position or assignment)

praetorship (the office of praetor)

precentorship (the position of precentor)

preceptorship (the position of preceptor)

prefecture (the office of prefect)

prelacy; prelature (the office or station of a prelate)

premiership (the office of premier)

presidency; presidentship (the office and function of president)

primateship (the office of primate)

principalship (the post of principal)

priorship (the office of prior)

proconsulate; proconsulship (the position of proconsul)

proctorship (the position of proctor)

chair; professorship (the position of professor)

protectorship (the position of protector)

public office (a position concerning the people as a whole)

rabbinate (the office or function of a rabbi)

receivership (the office of a receiver)

rectorate; rectorship (the office or station of a rector)

regency (the office of a regent)

residency (the position of physician who is receiving special training in a hospital (usually after completing an internship))

rulership (the position of ruler)

sainthood (the status and dignity of a saint)

secretaryship (the position of secretary)

feudal lordship; seigneury; seigniory (the position and authority of a feudal lord)

senatorship (the office of senator)

sinecure (an office that involves minimal duties)

solicitorship (the position of solicitor)

speakership (the position of Speaker)

stewardship (the position of steward)

studentship (the position of student)

teachership (the position of teacher)

thaneship (the position of thane)

throne (the position and power of an exalted person (a sovereign or bishop) who is entitled to sit in a chair of state on ceremonial occasions)

treasurership (the position of treasurer)

tribuneship (the position of tribune)

trusteeship (the position of trustee)

vice-presidency (the office and function of a vice president)

viceroyship (the position of viceroy)

viziership (the position of vizier)

wardenship (the position of warden)

wardership (the position of warder)

womanhood (the status of a woman)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A slight attack of illness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

spot; touch

Context example:

he has a touch of rheumatism

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

attack (a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition)

Sense 10

Meaning:

A small piece or quantity of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

bit; spot

Context example:

I gave him a bit of my mind

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

small indefinite amount; small indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude)

Sense 11

Meaning:

A mark on a die or on a playing card (shape depending on the suit)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

pip; spot

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

mark; marker; marking (a distinguishing symbol)

Holonyms ("spot" is a part of...):

playing card (one of a pack of cards that are used to play card games)

Sense 12

Meaning:

A lamp that produces a strong beam of light to illuminate a restricted area; used to focus attention of a stage performer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

spot; spotlight

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

lamp (an artificial source of visible illumination)

Holonyms ("spot" is a member of...):

theater light (any of various lights used in a theater)

Sense 13

Meaning:

A playing card with a specified number of pips on it to indicate its value

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

an eight-spot

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

playing card (one of a pack of cards that are used to play card games)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spot"):

eight; eight-spot (one of four playing cards in a deck with eight pips on the face)

five; five-spot (a playing card or a domino or a die whose upward face shows five pips)

four; four-spot (a playing card or domino or die whose upward face shows four pips)

nine; nine-spot (one of four playing cards in a deck with nine pips on the face)

seven; seven-spot (one of four playing cards in a deck with seven pips on the face)

six; six-spot (a playing card or domino or die whose upward face shows six pips)

ten; ten-spot (one of four playing cards in a deck with ten pips on the face)

Sense 14

Meaning:

An act that brings discredit to the person who does it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

blot; smear; smirch; spot; stain

Context example:

he made a huge blot on his copybook

Hypernyms ("spot" is a kind of...):

error; fault; mistake (a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention)

• SPOT (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Catch sight of

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

descry; espy; spot; spy

Hypernyms (to "spot" is one way to...):

sight; spy (catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

spotter (someone who is the first to observe something)

spotter (a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event)

spotting (the act of detecting something; catching sight of something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Detect with the senses

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

discern; distinguish; make out; pick out; recognise; recognize; spot; tell apart

Context example:

I can't make out the faces in this photograph

"Spot" entails doing...:

comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spot"):

resolve (make clearly visible)

discriminate (distinguish)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Mar or impair with a flaw

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

blemish; spot

Context example:

her face was blemished

Hypernyms (to "spot" is one way to...):

begrime; bemire; colly; dirty; grime; soil (make soiled, filthy, or dirty)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make a spot or mark onto

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

blob; blot; fleck; spot

Context example:

The wine spotted the tablecloth

Hypernyms (to "spot" is one way to...):

change surface (undergo or cause to undergo a change in the surface)

Verb group:

stain (produce or leave stains)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spot"):

splotch (blotch or spot)

defile; maculate; stain; sully; tarnish (make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically)

bespeckle; speckle (mark with small spots)

bespatter; spatter (spot, splash, or soil)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

spot (a blemish made by dirt)

spotting (the act of spotting or staining something)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Become spotted

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

This dress spots quickly

Hypernyms (to "spot" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spot"):

freckle (become freckled)

fox (become discolored with, or as if with, mildew spots)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

spot (a blemish made by dirt)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Mark with a spot or spots so as to allow easy recognition

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

spot the areas that one should clearly identify

Hypernyms (to "spot" is one way to...):

mark (make or leave a mark on)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spot"):

freckle (mark with freckles)

cloud; dapple; mottle (colour with streaks or blotches of different shades)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

spot (a small contrasting part of something)

spotter (a worker employed to apply spots (as markers or identifiers))

 Context examples 

The dark brown areas are called cafe-au-lait spots.

(Neurofibromatosis type 1, NCI Thesaurus)

He sat down as before, in the same spot, several feet away.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

If she had gone near the spot where his body lay, it was without her knowledge.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

If you have damp or wet spots in your house, you will probably get mold.

(Molds, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

A quick glance of her eye towards the spot where Steerforth was walking, with his mother leaning on his arm, showed me whom she meant; but beyond that, I was quite lost.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“Cooky did that,” he laughed again. “I know, though I didn’t spot him at it. Kind of evened up the score a bit.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I only wanted to be here in this spot—I don't know why, for I was afraid of something—I don't know what.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The size of the focal spot created by an X-ray tube.

(Focal Spot Size, NCI Thesaurus)

I know no sound to which I could compare this amazing tumult, which seemed to come from some spot within a few hundred yards of our camp.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Like enough, to judge from the sound, his back was broken on the spot.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)