# spot

/ˈspɑt/ (US) · /spˈɒt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spot
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a location

noun · CEFR A2

a particular place or area.

For teachers: a specific location, site, or area used for a particular purpose.

- This is a lovely spot for a picnic under the trees.
- The developers identified a prime spot for the new shopping centre, situated conveniently near the intersection of two major motorways.

### 2. a small mark

noun · CEFR A2

a small, round mark that is a different colour from the area around it.

For teachers: a small, usually circular area of a surface that differs in colour or texture from the main part.

- The dog is white with a large black spot over one eye.
- The biologist noted several irregular brown spots on the leaves, suggesting the presence of a fungal infection within the greenhouse.

### 3. on the skin

noun · CEFR B1

a small, red mark or pimple on your skin.

For teachers: a small, inflamed papule or pustule on the skin.

- He was worried about a red spot that appeared on his chin.
- Teenagers often struggle with confidence when they develop spots, though most dermatologists consider it a standard part of adolescent development.

### 4. a difficult situation

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a difficult or embarrassing situation.

For teachers: a difficult, awkward, or compromising situation; often used in the phrase 'in a tight spot'.

- I was in a bit of a spot when I realised I had forgotten my wallet.
- The sudden withdrawal of the primary investor put the startup in a difficult spot just weeks before the product launch.

### 5. advertisement

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a short advertisement on television or radio.

For teachers: a brief interval in a broadcast schedule devoted to a specific advertisement or programme segment.

- The company paid for a thirty-second spot during the championship game.
- Securing a prime-time television spot remains the most expensive component of the national marketing campaign.

### 6. to notice

verb · CEFR B1

to see or notice someone or something, especially when they are hard to find.

For teachers: to detect, notice, or identify something through active observation or by chance.

- Can you spot the difference between these two pictures?
- The eagle-eyed customs officer managed to spot the forged signature on the passport despite the high quality of the counterfeit.

### 7. to mark or stain

verb · CEFR B2

to mark something with small dots or stains.

For teachers: to mark or discolour with small spots; to become marked with spots.

- The rain started to spot the pavement just as we left the house.
- Years of dampness had begun to spot the silk wallpaper with unsightly grey mildew.

### 8. to lend money

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English · Slang

to lend someone a small amount of money for a short time.

For teachers: to provide someone with a small amount of money as a loan, usually for an immediate need.

- Could you spot me five dollars for lunch? I'll pay you back tomorrow.
- He asked his colleague to spot him the entrance fee, promising to settle the debt via a bank transfer later that evening.

### 9. immediate

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

happening or paid immediately.

For teachers: relating to a system of trading where goods are delivered and paid for immediately.

- The spot price of gold changed three times this morning.
- Traders closely monitored the spot market to determine the immediate impact of the geopolitical crisis on crude oil prices.

## Examples

- This is a great spot for a picnic.
- We found a quiet spot in the park where we could sit and read without being disturbed.
- The biologist noted a small red spot on the wing of the butterfly, which served as a primary identifying characteristic for that specific subspecies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.