spotted

1. 1
   adjective

   Marked with spots, a pattern seen especially on certain animals and plants.

   A spotted leopard moved silently along the riverbank.

   The meadow was full of spotted orchids in early summer.

   Similarspeckled, dappled, dotted, mottled, flecked

   Oppositeplain

   Note

   A classifying adjective rather than a grading one: a creature either bears spots or it does not, so this sense takes no more or most. That sets it apart from the "stained" meaning, where a cloth can grow more spotted with every spill. It sits before a noun in the names of animals and plants, as in a spotted hyena, where it works almost as part of the name.

2. 2
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of spot.

   The lookout spotted smoke rising on the horizon.

   Critics spotted several inconsistencies in the report.

   Note

   Behind this form stand several meanings of the verb at once. The lookout spotted smoke is noticing. A cloth spotted with wine is staining, and there the participle shades into the "stained" adjective. In US slang it takes two objects, as in she spotted him ten dollars, meaning a small loan. One form serves as simple past and, after have or had, as past participle.

3. 3
   adjective

   Discolored by spots; marked with stains.

   The tablecloth was spotted with wine after the party.

   Years of damp had left the ceiling spotted and gray.

   Similarstained, marked, blotchy, speckled

   Oppositespotless, clean, unmarked

Showing meanings only. Show all 3