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   spot

   /spɒt/

   noun

   • 1. a small round or roundish mark, differing in colour or texture from the surface around it: "ladybirds have black spots on their red wing covers" Similar markpatchpopdotspeckspeckleflecksmudgesmearstainblotchblotsplashdaubtechnical:petechiainformal:splotchsploshsplodgerare:maculemacula
   • ▪ a small mark or stain: "a spot of mildew on the wall" Similar discolorationfreckleliver spotage spotmolebirthmarkport wine stainstrawberry marktechnical:naevus
   • ▪ a pimple. Similar pimplepustuleblemishblackheadboilswellingeruptionwenstypockpockmarkacnerashplooktechnical:comedoinformal:zitwhiteheadhickeyrare:papuleblebwhelkblain
   • ▪ a blemish on someone's character or reputation.
   • ▪ a pip on a domino, playing card, or dice. North American
   • 2. a particular place or point: "a nice secluded spot" Similar placelocationsitepositionpointsituationscenesettinglocalelocalityareaneighbourhoodregionvenuetechnical:locus
   • ▪ a small feature or part of something with a particular quality: "his bald spot"
   • ▪ short for penalty spot
   • ▪ a ranking: "the runner-up spot"
   • ▪ a place for an individual item within a show: "she couldn't do her usual singing spot in the club" Similar positionplacenicheslotspaceinformal:window
   • 3. a small amount of something: informal British "a spot of rain" Similar bitlittlesomesmall amountmorselmodicumbitedropsplashinformal:smidgensmidgetadscoosh
   • ▪ a small alcoholic drink: dated "may I offer you a spot?"
   • 4. denoting a system of trading in which commodities or currencies are delivered and paid for immediately after a sale: "trading in the spot markets"
   • 5. short for spotlight
   • 6. a board for working plaster before application.
   • 7. a banknote of a specified value: informal North American "a ten-spot"
   • 8. a bar or other drinking establishment (usually in a private home in a township) that operates without an official permit: South African "her father was at the spot with his friends"

   verb

   • 1. see, notice, or recognize (someone or something) that is difficult to detect or that one is searching for: "Andrew spotted the advert in the paper" Similar noticeseeobservediscerndetectperceivemake outpick outdistinguishrecognizeidentifylocatecatch sight ofglimpsesightmarkremarkinformal:clockliterary:descryespy
   • ▪ recognize that (someone) has a particular talent, especially for sport or show business: "we were spotted by a talent scout"
   • ▪ observe and note the details of (a certain class of thing) as a hobby: British "some people collect stamps or spot trains"
   • ▪ locate an enemy's position, typically from the air: "they were spotting for enemy aircraft"
   • ▪ (in weight training, gymnastics, etc.) observe (a performer) in order to minimize the risk of accidents or injuries.
   • 2. mark or become marked with spots: "the velvet was spotted with stains" Similar stainmarkfleckspeckleblotchmottlesmudgestreaksplashspatterbespatterdirtysoilinformal:splotchsploshsplodgeliterary:besmirchsmirch
   • ▪ cover (a surface or area) thinly: "thorn trees spotted the land"
   • ▪ stain or sully the moral character or qualities of: archaic "they might be spotted merely with the errors introduced by Luther" Similar sullystaintarnishblackentaintblemish
   • 3. rain slightly: "it was still spotting with rain" Similar rain lightlydrizzlespitmizzlesprinkle
   • 4. place (a ball) on its designated starting point on a billiard table.
   • 5. give or lend (money) to (someone): informal North American "I'll spot you $300"
   • ▪ allow (an advantage) to (someone) in a game or sport: "the higher-rated team spots the lower-rated team the difference in their handicaps"

   Word Origin Middle English: perhaps from Middle Dutch spotte. The sense ‘notice, recognize’ arose from the early 19th century slang use ‘note as a suspect or criminal’.

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • S

     1

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • T

     1

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