Word: spot Part of Speech: noun 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. A round or irregular patch on the surface of a thing having a different color, texture etc. and generally round in shape. Example: The leopard is noted for the spots of color in its fur. Example: Why do ladybugs have spots? 2. A stain or disfiguring mark. Example: I have tried everything, and I can’t get this spot out. 3. A pimple, papule or pustule. Example: That morning, I saw that a spot had come up on my chin. Example: I think she's got chicken pox; she's covered in spots. 4. A symbol on a playing card, domino, die, etc. indicating its value; a pip. 5. A small, unspecified amount or quantity. Example: Do come 'round on Sunday for a spot of tea, won't you? 6. A bill of five-dollar or ten-dollar denomination in dollars. Labels: US, slang Example: Here's the twenty bucks I owe you, a ten spot and two five spots. 7. A location or area. Example: I like to eat lunch in a pleasant spot outside. Example: For our anniversary we went back to the same spot where we first met. 8. A parking space. Example: Del Valle has the blessing of a garage, so he doesn't have to claim “dibs” on shoveled street spots himself, he said. 9. An official determination of placement. Example: The fans were very unhappy with the referee's spot of the ball. 10. A bright lamp; a spotlight. 11. A brief advertisement or program segment on television. Labels: US Example: Did you see the spot on the news about the shoelace factory? 12. A difficult situation. Example: She was in a real spot when she ran into her separated husband while on a date. 13. One who spots (supports or assists a maneuver, or is prepared to assist if safety dictates); a spotter. 14. Penalty spot. Example: The Gunners dominated for long periods but, against the run of play, Denilson fouled Max Gradel and Robert Snodgrass put Leeds ahead from the spot. 15. The act of spotting or noticing something. Example: You've misspelled "terrapin" here. —Whoops. Good spot. 16. A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot on its head just above the beak. 17. A food fish (Leiostomus xanthurus) of the Atlantic coast of the United States, with a black spot behind the shoulders and fifteen oblique dark bars on the sides. 18. The southern redfish, or red horse (Sciaenops ocellatus), which has a spot on each side at the base of the tail. 19. Commodities, such as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate delivery. Labels: dated, in-plural 20. An autosoliton. 21. A decimal point; point. Example: Twelve spot two five pounds sterling. 22. Any of various points marked on the table, from which balls are played, in snooker, pool, billiards, etc. 23. Any of the balls marked with spots in the game of pool, which one player aims to pot, the other player taking the stripes. 24. An alcoholic drink. Labels: Australia, New-Zealand Example: ‘It's a time since I saw you, Chris. What about a spot?’ Example: To be lured into his shop for a convivial spot was disastrous.