Definition: spot

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

spot
     n 1: a point located with respect to surface features of some
          region; "this is a nice place for a picnic" [syn: topographic
          point, place]
     2: a short section or illustration (as between radio or tv
        programs or in a magazine) that is often used for
        advertising
     3: a blemish made by dirt; "he had a smudge on his cheek" [syn:
         smudge, blot, daub, smear, smirch, slur]
     4: a small contrasting part of something; "a bald spot"; "a
        leopard's spots"; "a patch of clouds"; "patches of thin
        ice": "a fleck of red" [syn: speckle, dapple, patch,
         fleck, maculation]
     5: a section of an entertainment that is assigned to a specific
        performer or performance; "they changed his spot on the
        program"
     6: an outstanding characteristic; "his acting was one of the
        high points of the movie" [syn: point]
     7: a business establishment for entertainment; "night spot"
     8: a job in an organization; "he occupied a post in the
        treasury" [syn: position, post, berth, office, place,
         situation]
     9: a slight attack of illness; "he has a touch of rheumatism"
        [syn: touch]
     10: (British) a small quantity; "a spot of tea"; "a bit of
         paper" [syn: bit]
     11: a mark on a playing card (shape depending on the suit) [syn:
          pip]
     12: a lamp that produces a strong beam of light to illuminate a
         restricted area; used to focus attention of a stage
         performer [syn: spotlight]
     13: a playing card with a specified number of pips on it to
         indicate its value; "an eight spot"
     14: an act that brings discredit to the person who does it; "he
         made a huge blot on his copybook" [syn: blot, smear,
         smirch, stain]
     v 1: catch sight of [syn: descry, espy, spy]
     2: mar or impair with a flaw; "her face was blemished" [syn: blemish]
     3: make a spot or mark onto; "The wine spotted the tablecloth"
        [syn: fleck, blob, blot]
     4: become spotted; "This dress spots quickly"
     5: mark with a spot or spots so as to allow easy recognition;
        "spot the areas that one should clearly identify"

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Spot \Spot\, a.
   Lit., being on the spot, or place; hence (Com.), on hand for
   immediate delivery after sale; -- said of commodities; as,
   spot wheat.
Spot \Spot\, v. i.
   To become stained with spots.
Spot \Spot\, n. [Cf. Scot. & D. spat, Dan. spette, Sw. spott
   spittle, slaver; from the root of E. spit. See Spit to
   eject from the mouth, and cf. Spatter.]
   1. A mark on a substance or body made by foreign matter; a
      blot; a place discolored.

            Out, damned spot! Out, I say!         --Shak.

   2. A stain on character or reputation; something that soils
      purity; disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish.

            Yet Chloe, sure, was formed without a spot. --Pope.

   3. A small part of a different color from the main part, or
      from the ground upon which it is; as, the spots of a
      leopard; the spots on a playing card.

   4. A small extent of space; a place; any particular place.
      ``Fixed to one spot.'' --Otway.

            That spot to which I point is Paradise. --Milton.

            ``A jolly place,'' said he, ``in times of old! But
            something ails it now: the spot is cursed.''
                                                  --Wordsworth.

   5. (Zo["o]l.) A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so
      called from a spot on its head just above its beak.

   6. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) A sci[ae]noid food fish (Liostomus xanthurus) of the
          Atlantic coast of the United States. It has a black
          spot behind the shoulders and fifteen oblique dark
          bars on the sides. Called also goody, Lafayette,
          masooka, and old wife.
      (b) The southern redfish, or red horse, which has a spot
          on each side at the base of the tail. See Redfish.

   7. pl. Commodities, as merchandise and cotton, sold for
      immediate delivery. [Broker's Cant]

   Crescent spot (Zo["o]l.), any butterfly of the family
      Melit[ae]id[ae] having crescent-shaped white spots along
      the margins of the red or brown wings.

   Spot lens (Microscopy), a condensing lens in which the
      light is confined to an annular pencil by means of a
      small, round diaphragm (the spot), and used in dark-field
      ilumination; -- called also spotted lens.

   Spot rump (Zo["o]l.), the Hudsonian godwit (Limosa
      h[ae]mastica).

   Spots on the sun. (Astron.) See Sun spot, ander Sun.

   On, or Upon, the spot, immediately; before moving;
      without changing place.

            It was determined upon the spot.      --Swift.

   Syn: Stain; flaw; speck; blot; disgrace; reproach; fault;
        blemish; place; site; locality.
Spot \Spot\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spotted; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Spotting.]
   1. To make visible marks upon with some foreign matter; to
      discolor in or with spots; to stain; to cover with spots
      or figures; as, to spot a garnment; to spot paper.

   2. To mark or note so as to insure recognition; to recognize;
      to detect; as, to spot a criminal. [Cant]

   3. To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish,
      as reputation; to asperse.

            My virgin life no spotted thoughts shall stain.
                                                  --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.

            If ever I shall close these eyes but once, May I
            live spotted for my perjury.          --Beau. & Fl.

   To spot timber, to cut or chip it, in preparation for
      hewing.