Webster's English Dictionary

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spot

1. spot or upon the spot \'spa:t\ n [ME; akin to MD spotte stain, speck, ON 
   spotti small piece] 1: a taint on character or reputation : FAULT  2a: a 
   small area visibly different (as in color, finish, or material) from  the 
   surrounding area 2b: such a spot constituting a disfigurement or blemish 
   (as from soiling or  disease) 2c: a conventionalized design used on playing 
   cards to distinguish suits an d indicate values 3: an object having a 
   specified number of spots or a specified numeral on i ts surface 4: a small 
   quantity or amount  5a: a particular place or area  5b: a small extent of 
   space  6: a small croaker (Leiostomus xanthurus) of the Atlantic coast with 
    a black spot behind the shoulders 7a: a particular position (as in an 
   organization or a hierarchy)  7b: a place on an entertainment program  8: a 
   position usu. of difficulty or embarrassment  9: a brief announcement or 
   advertisement broadcast between scheduled radio  or television programs 1: 
   at once : IMMEDIATELY  2: at the place of action  3a: in a responsible or 
   accountable position  3b: in difficulty or danger  - on the spot 
2. spot \'spa:t-*-b*l\ vb or spot.ted;  or spot.ting 1: to stain the 
   character or reputation of : DISGRACE  2: to mark in or with a spot : STAIN 
    3: to locate or identify by a spot  4a: to single out : IDENTIFY; specif : 
   to note as a known  criminal or a suspicious person 4b: DETECT, NOTICE  
   4c1: to locate accurately {~ an enemy position}  4c2: to cause to strike 
   accurately {~ the batter's fire}  5a: to lie at intervals in or over : STUD 
    5b: to place at intervals or in a desired spot  5c: to fix in or as if in 
   the beam of a spotlight  5d: to schedule in a particular spot or at a 
   particular time  6: to remove a spot from  7: to allow as a handicap  1: to 
   become stained or discolored in spots  2: to cause a spot  3: to act as a 
   spotter; esp : to locate targets  - spot.ta.ble aj
3. spot aj 1a: being, originating, or done on the spot or in a few spots {~ 
   c overage of the news} 1b: available for immediate delivery after sale {~ 
   commodities}  1c1: paid out upon delivery {~ cash}  1c2: involving 
   immediate cash payment {~ transaction}  1d1: broadcast between scheduled 
   programs {~ announcements}  1d2: originating in a local station for a 
   national advertiser  2: made at random or restricted to a few places or 
   instances {~ ch eck}; also : selected at random or as a sample