I. ˈspät 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
spot s of rot
rust spot s 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
•
- on the spot
II. verb
( spot·ted ; spot·ting )
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
• spot·ta·ble ˈspä-tə-bəl 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