Word: spot Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English spot, spotte, partially from Middle Dutch spotte (“spot, speck”), and partially merging with Middle English splot, from Old English splott (“spot, plot of land”), from Proto-West Germanic *splott, from Proto-Germanic *spluttaz (“segment”), from Proto-Indo-European *splt-no- (“an off-split, segment”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pel- (“to split”). Cognate with North Frisian spot (“speck, piece of ground”), Low German spot (“speck”), Old Norse spotti (“small piece”). See also splot, splotch. Pronunciation: /spɒt/, /spɑt/ 1. To see, find; to pick out, notice, locate, distinguish or identify. Labels: transitive Example: Try to spot the differences between these two pictures. Example: The campaign aimed to give commuters the confidence to trust their own instincts and intervene if they spot someone vulnerable who may be at risk of suicide, and to talk to them to interrupt their suicidal thoughts. 2. To loan a small amount of money to someone. Labels: US, ditransitive, slang Example: I’ll spot you ten dollars for lunch. Example: “It’s close to payday, but you’re welcome to what I have. Maybe Wickliffe can spot me a few.” 3. To stain; to leave a spot (on). Labels: ambitransitive Example: Hard water will spot if it is left on a surface. Example: a garment spotted with mould 4. To cover with spots, to speckle. Labels: transitive Example: No palm-tree rose to spot the wilderness; […] Example: […] many ships spotting the dark blue deep / With snowy sails, fled fast as ours came nigh, […] 5. To experience vaginal spotting; to expel blood from the vagina. Example: "If you've got regular periods with an IUD that's fine, but if you're starting to spot or get quite a regular loss, then it should be carefully investigated." (Last) 6. To rain slightly, in scattered, infrequent drops, for example when first beginning to rain. Labels: dialectal Example: And it is beginning to spot with rain. I must start work on a shelter. Example: […] thunder growled as if to confirm his prediction. Rain was beginning to spot as he kissed me in parting. I had to hurry back to the Assembly Rooms to avoid a soaking. 7. To remove, or attempt to remove, a stain. Labels: transitive Example: I spotted the carpet where the child dropped spaghetti. 8. To retouch a photograph on film to remove minor flaws. Labels: transitive 9. To support or assist a maneuver, or to be prepared to assist if safety dictates. Labels: transitive Example: I can’t do a back handspring unless somebody spots me. Example: There had not been time to build handrails, so lines of women spotted the sides of the ramp. 10. To keep the head and eyes pointing in a single direction while turning. Labels: transitive Example: Most figure skaters do not spot their turns like dancers do. 11. To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation. Labels: transitive Example: Link not me in self same chain / With the wicked-working folk, / Who their spotted thoughts do cloak. Example: If ever I shall close these eyes but once, / May I live spotted for my perjury. 12. To cut or chip (timber) in preparation for hewing. Labels: transitive 13. To place (an object) at a location indicated by a spot. Labels: transitive Example: The referee had to spot the pink on the blue spot. 14. Of a ball, to be capable of being placed on its own spot. Labels: intransitive Example: The black ball won't spot – the green is in the way. 15. To position (an aircraft) on the deck of an aircraft carrier ready for launch by catapult. Labels: transitive Example: The aircraft is spotted on the catapult, and the console operator turns the crank to FIRST READY, causing the exhaust valve to close. Example: This spotting order varies from carrier to carrier to suit the flight-deck layout. Certain aircraft must be spotted in a specific location to permit servicing, loading of ammunition, starting, maintenance, and so forth. 16. To position (a locomotive or car) at a predetermined point, e.g., for loading or unloading. Labels: transitive