spot

spot1 [ spat ] noun count ***

▸ 1 particular place/area

▸ 2 small area of color

▸ 3 relative position

▸ 4 difficult situation

▸ 5 spotlight

▸ 6 small amount of something

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) a particular place on your body:

a sore/tender spot: There is a sore spot on my head where I bumped it.

a ) the particular place where someone or something is:

We found him sitting in a sunny spot in the yard.

mark the spot: Flowers mark the spot where the accident happened.

the very/exact spot: The king himself had stood on this very spot.

b ) a particular town, city, or area:

one of the region's best-known tourist spots

c ) INFORMAL a particular place where people go for entertainment:

a popular hot spot for clubbers

2. ) a small dirty mark that should not be there:

a spot of paint on the step

a ) a small round area of color that is different than the color of the surface and that often forms part of a pattern:

spot of: spots of yellow

with spots: The flower is yellow with red spots.

b ) a small red mark that you get on your skin if you have a disease such as MEASLES or CHICKENPOX

3. ) INFORMAL a position of success when compared with others, for example in a competition:

The book occupied the number-one bestseller spot for four months.

a ) a position within a series of events, for example in a television or radio program:

She had a five-minute spot on a local radio show.

4. ) INFORMAL a difficult situation:

a tight spot: We'd fought our way out of a few tight spots before.

5. ) INFORMAL a SPOTLIGHT

6. ) MAINLY BRITISH a small amount of something, usually liquid: DROP:

spot of: I felt a few spots of rain on my face.

a bright spot INFORMAL

something good in a situation that is mostly bad:

The one bright spot for the team last year was the match in France.

have a soft spot for

to like someone or something, often someone or something other people do not like:

I've always had a soft spot for the Newark airport.

hit the spot INFORMAL

to be exactly what you want or need:

A cool glass of beer would really hit the spot.

on the spot

1. ) in the exact place where something is happening:

We'll have a police officer on the spot immediately.

2. ) immediately:

Any workers found breaking these rules will be fired on the spot.

put someone on the spot

to ask someone a question that is difficult or embarrassing to answer

rooted/glued/frozen to the spot

unable to move, usually because you are afraid:

Martin wanted to run, but he was rooted to the spot.

a sore spot

something that is difficult for someone to talk about or deal with:

Money has always been a sore spot in our relationship.

=> BLIND SPOT, FIVE SPOT, HOT SPOT

spot

spot 2 [ spat ] verb transitive **

1. ) to notice something or someone:

Hugh was spotted by local police and had to leave quickly.

Mara spotted the book she gave Ed for his birthday in the trash.

spot someone doing something: The boys had been spotted buying alcohol.

a ) to notice that someone has a special ability that can be developed:

She was spotted singing in bars when she was 18.

spot someone's potential: An effective teacher can spot a child's potential.

2. ) to do weight training with someone, watching them, helping them, and encouraging them to lift heavier weights

3. ) AMERICAN in sports, to give an advantage to someone you are playing against, usually because they are not as good as you