/ English Dictionary

SPOT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: spotted    , spotting   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An act that brings discredit to the person who does it

Example:

he made a huge blot on his copybook

Synonyms:

blot; smear; smirch; spot; stain

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

A job in an organization

Example:

he occupied a post in the treasury

Synonyms:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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 3

Meaning:

A business establishment for entertainment

Example:

night spot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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 4

Meaning:

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

Example:

an eight-spot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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 5

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

spot; spotlight

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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 6

Meaning:

A small contrasting part of something

Example:

a fleck of red

Synonyms:

dapple; fleck; maculation; patch; speckle; spot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

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 7

Meaning:

A blemish made by dirt

Example:

he had a smudge on his cheek

Synonyms:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

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 8

Meaning:

An outstanding characteristic

Example:

his acting was one of the high points of the movie

Synonyms:

point; spot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

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

characteristic (a distinguishing quality)

Sense 9

Meaning:

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

Example:

they changed his spot on the program

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 10

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 11

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

pip; spot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

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 point located with respect to surface features of some region

Example:

a bright spot on a planet

Synonyms:

place; spot; topographic point

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

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 13

Meaning:

A small piece or quantity of something

Example:

I gave him a bit of my mind

Synonyms:

bit; spot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

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

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

Sense 14

Meaning:

A slight attack of illness

Example:

he has a touch of rheumatism

Synonyms:

spot; touch

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

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

attack (a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Example:

spot the areas that one should clearly identify

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become spotted

Example:

This dress spots quickly

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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 3

Meaning:

Make a spot or mark onto

Example:

The wine spotted the tablecloth

Synonyms:

blob; blot; fleck; spot

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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 4

Meaning:

Mar or impair with a flaw

Example:

her face was blemished

Synonyms:

blemish; spot

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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 5

Meaning:

Catch sight of

Synonyms:

descry; espy; spot; spy

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

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 6

Meaning:

Detect with the senses

Example:

I can't make out the faces in this photograph

Synonyms:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

"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

Credits

 Context examples: 

His sister had a letter from him yesterday, in which he tells us of it, and he had just had it in a letter from Harville, written upon the spot, from Uppercross.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

At Ferndean, a manor-house on a farm he has, about thirty miles off: quite a desolate spot.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

People with Fanconi anemia may have a small skeleton and brown spots on the skin.

(Fanconi anemia, NCI Dictionary)

I marked the spot upon my own head.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He could not speak, he could not move from the spot where he stood.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Astronomers have spotted three giant black holes within a titanic collision of three galaxies.

(Three Black Holes on Collision Course, NASA)

One method of spotting cancer early is to find biomarkers—substances in the body that signal the presence of a disease.

(Method for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer, NIH)

Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have spotted the light of a massive galaxy seen only 970 million years after the Big Bang.

(ALMA spots most distant dusty galaxy hidden in plain sight, National Science Foundation)

The long, thin cloud to the left of the dark spot is a transient feature that is not part of the storm system.

(Hubble Reveals Dynamic Atmospheres of Uranus, Neptune, NASA)

You will likely go short distances, most likely for pleasure, perhaps returning to a spot that you used to visit years ago and now would like to experience again.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

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