[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/spotting/)

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# spotting

verb, -ing form of spot (spot, spots, spotted, spotting); noun (spotting, uncountable — e.g. bird spotting)

«spotting» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Spotting means noticing or seeing something, often something hard to find. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spotting/#m1)
2. Spotting is a hobby of watching for and recording things, like bird spotting or train spotting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spotting/#m2)
3. In sports and gym, spotting means standing by to help and catch someone so they do not get hurt. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spotting/#m3)

### In the lessons

In reading and maths, pupils practise spotting patterns, mistakes or clues. In science, spotting birds or bugs is part of nature surveys. In stories, detectives are good at spotting clues. Safety: spotting dangers, like a car coming, keeps you safe. Phrases: «good at spotting», «spotting the difference».

### Examples

- She is good at spotting mistakes in her work. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spotting/#x1)
- We went bird spotting in the park. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spotting/#x2)
- Can you play «spot the difference»? I'm spotting three already. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spotting/#x3)
- The lifeguard is spotting swimmers who need help. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spotting/#x4)
- Spotting a pattern helps you find the next number. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spotting/#x5)
- The coach was spotting me on the balance beam. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spotting/#x6)
- Keep spotting for cars before you cross. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spotting/#x7)

### Note

The -ing form of spot doubles the t: «spotting», «spotted». Spot can also mean a dot or a pimple, so read the sentence. In maths, spotting a pattern (like +3 each time) helps predict the next numbers.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «spotting» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spotting/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«spotting» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spotting.html) on Mova free.