Spot Meaning
/spɒt/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA round or irregular patch on the surface of a thing having a different color, texture etc. and generally round in shape.
nounA stain or disfiguring mark.
Sentence Examples
Anyone breaking the rules will be asked to leave on the spot.
The seaside is an ideal spot for the children to play.
Can you spot the difference between these two pictures?
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hiker looked for a flat ____ to set up his tent for the night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We found a perfect ____ under a large oak tree to have our family picnic earlier this afternoon.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"That spot to which I point is Paradise."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
""A jolly place," said he, "in times of old! / But something ails it now: the spot is curs'd.""
— 1800, William Wordsworth, Hart-leap Well:
"Yachvilli made it 6-0 with a second sweet strike from 45 metres after Matt Stevens was penalised for collapsing a scrum, and then slid another penalty just wide from the same spot."
— 2011, Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France:
"Del Valle has the blessing of a garage, so he doesn't have to claim “dibs” on shoveled street spots himself, he said."
— 2011 March 23, “We asked mayoral candidates: Do you support 'dibs' on parking spots?”, in Chicago Sun-Times:
"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."
— 2011 January 8, Chris Bevan, “Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds”, in BBC:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hiker looked for a flat ____ to set up his tent for the night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We found a perfect ____ under a large oak tree to have our family picnic earlier this afternoon.