📖 S — The English dictionary · page 83

sportive — Everyday, meaning 1: (old-fashioned) Sportive means playful and full of fun: a sportive puppy.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Sportive can mean to do with sport, or sporty in look (a sportive car — more common in other languages).↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (cycling) A «sportive» (noun) is a long organised bike ride that is not a race.↗ Example: The sportive lambs jumped about the field.↗ · The poem describes sportive dolphins in the waves.↗ · Dad entered a 100-kilometre cycling sportive.↗ · She was in a sportive mood and played tricks all day.↗ · In English we usually say «sporty», not «sportive», for someone who likes sport.↗ · The kittens were sportive and chased the string.↗ · But with the Pygmies he was the most sportive and humorous, and merry-hearted, and sweet-tempered old Giant that ever washed his face in a wet cloud.↗

sportsman — Everyday, meaning 1: A sportsman is a man who plays sport, especially well or as his job.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A person who plays fairly, is polite to the other side and accepts losing well.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (older use) A man who goes hunting, shooting or fishing for sport.↗ Example: He is a famous sportsman who plays rugby for New Zealand.↗ · A good sportsman shakes hands even after losing.↗ · Dad was a keen sportsman when he was young.↗ · She was named sportsperson of the year.↗ · The coach praised Liam's sportsmanship.↗ · Be a sportsman and help the other player up.↗ · "One could but try," the sportsman replied, and he held out his hand.↗

sportsmanship — Everyday, meaning 1: Playing fairly and kindly in sport or games: following the rules, respecting the other team and the referee, and being a good winner and a good loser.↗ Example: Shaking hands after the game shows good sportsmanship.↗ · She won the sportsmanship award.↗ · Cheating is bad sportsmanship.↗ · He stopped to help the runner who fell; that was real sportsmanship.↗ · Say "well played" to the other team.↗ · Our coach cares about sportsmanship more than winning.↗

sporty — Everyday, meaning 1: A sporty person likes sport and is good at it.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Sporty clothes look like clothes for sport, casual and bright.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A sporty car is fast and looks like a racing car.↗ Example: My sister is very sporty and plays three sports.↗ · I'm not sporty, but I like swimming.↗ · He wore a sporty jacket and trainers.↗ · Dad wants a sporty red car.↗ · She is the sportiest girl in our year.↗ · Our school has sporty clubs after school.↗

spot — Everyday, meaning 1: A spot is a small round mark of a different colour, like spots on a ladybird.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A spot is a small red lump on the skin (a pimple).↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A spot is a particular place.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To spot something is to notice or see it, often when it is hard to see.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: A spot of something is a small amount (British).↗ Example: A ladybird has black spots on its red wings.↗ · I've got a spot on my nose.↗ · This is a good spot for a picnic.↗ · Can you spot the mistake in this sum?↗ · I spotted my friend in the crowd.↗ · Chickenpox gives you itchy spots.↗ · He was fined on the spot.↗ · Grandpa has a soft spot for his old dog.↗ · All the spectators knew the spot well.↗ · and for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot; (Torah LEV.14.56, JPS 1917)↗ · and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest.↗ (Torah LEV.13.19, JPS 1917)↗ · But if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.↗ (Torah LEV.13.23, JPS 1917)↗ · Thou art all fair, my love; and there is no spot in thee.↗ (Writings SNG.4.7, JPS 1917)↗ · Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear; (Writings JOB.11.15, JPS 1917)↗ · If my step hath turned out of the way, and my heart walked after mine eyes, and if any spot hath cleaved to my hands; (Writings JOB.31.7, JPS 1917)↗

spotless — Everyday, meaning 1: Spotless means completely clean, without any dirt or marks.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Spotless can also mean without any mistake or fault, as in "a spotless record".↗ Example: After an hour of cleaning, the kitchen was spotless.↗ · The nurse's uniform was spotless.↗ · My nan keeps her house spotless.↗ · Our team has a spotless record this season: no defeats.↗ · The windows were so spotless that the bird flew into them.↗ · (informal) My bedroom is never spotless, but it's tidy enough.↗ · With his spotless hue, he resembled a snow drift, wafted along by the wind.↗

spotlight — Everyday, meaning 1: A spotlight is a strong lamp that shines a narrow, bright beam onto one person or area, especially on a stage.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: «In the spotlight» means getting a lot of attention from people or the news.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (verb) To spotlight something means to shine a light on it or to draw special attention to it.↗ Example: The spotlight followed Mia as she sang her solo.↗ · The caretaker fixed the broken spotlight in the hall.↗ · After winning the spelling bee, Sam was in the spotlight all week.↗ · The dog ran onto the stage and stole the spotlight.↗ · Our assembly spotlighted pupils who help others.↗ · The famous singer wanted a quiet life out of the spotlight.↗ · We used a torch as a spotlight for our shadow puppets.↗

spots — Everyday, meaning 1: Small round marks or patches of a different colour on something, like the spots on a ladybird or a Dalmatian.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Small red bumps on the skin, such as pimples or the rash of chickenpox.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Places, as in good spots for a picnic or parking spots.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: As a verb, spots means notices or sees something, often something hard to see: she spots a mistake.↗ Example: The leopard has dark spots all over its fur.↗ · My little brother came out in itchy spots when he had chickenpox.↗ · There are two red spots of paint on my sleeve.↗ · We found three good spots to put up the tent.↗ · Mum spots a free parking space and drives in.↗ · Sam always spots the hidden animal in the picture first.↗ · A ladybird with seven spots landed on my hand.↗ · The teacher spots that I forgot to carry the one.↗ · The Leopard exhibited one by one the various spots which decorated his skin.↗ · And if a man or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots; (Torah LEV.13.38, JPS 1917)↗ · then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be of a dull white, it is a tetter, it hath broken out in the skin: he is clean.↗ (Torah LEV.13.39, JPS 1917)↗ · Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?↗ (Prophets JER.13.23, JPS 1917)↗

spotted — Everyday, meaning 1: Spotted means covered with a pattern of spots or dots: «a spotted dog».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Spotted is the past form of «spot»: to notice or see something, especially something hard to find.↗ Example: The Dalmatian has a spotted coat.↗ · I spotted my friend in the crowd.↗ · She spotted a mistake in her sum and fixed it.↗ · We spotted a deer in the woods.↗ · Ladybirds are red and spotted.↗ · Have you spotted the five differences in the pictures?↗ · The thief was spotted on camera.↗ · A pretty Barbel, with spotted skin, and an enviably round back, declared that the "human fry" were still there.↗ · And the flocks conceived at the sight of the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted.↗ (Torah GEN.30.39, JPS 1917)↗ · I will pass through all thy flock to-day, removing from thence every speckled and spotted one, and every dark one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and of such shall be my hire.↗ (Torah GEN.30.32, JPS 1917)↗

spotter — Everyday, meaning 1: A spotter is a person who watches out for something, especially as a hobby: a train spotter, a bird spotter, a plane spotter.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (sport) In gym and weightlifting, a spotter stands by to catch you or help if you lose control.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A spotter is someone who watches for danger or for an enemy and reports it, like a fire spotter or an aircraft spotter in wartime.↗ Example: Grandpa has been a train spotter since he was a boy.↗ · A spotter stood beside the trampoline.↗ · Never lift heavy weights without a spotter.↗ · Bird spotters waited quietly in the hide.↗ · In the war, spotters on rooftops watched for enemy planes.↗ · Weather spotters reported the tornado.↗ · The talent spotter asked the girl to join the football academy.↗

spotting — Everyday, meaning 1: Spotting means noticing or seeing something, often something hard to find.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Spotting is a hobby of watching for and recording things, like bird spotting or train spotting.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: In sports and gym, spotting means standing by to help and catch someone so they do not get hurt.↗ Example: She is good at spotting mistakes in her work.↗ · We went bird spotting in the park.↗ · Can you play «spot the difference»?↗ I'm spotting three already.↗ · The lifeguard is spotting swimmers who need help.↗ · Spotting a pattern helps you find the next number.↗ · The coach was spotting me on the balance beam.↗ · Keep spotting for cars before you cross.↗

spotty — Everyday, meaning 1: Spotty means covered with spots or dots, like a spotty dress.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Spotty means having pimples on the skin.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Spotty (mainly US) can mean not even or not regular, good in some places and bad in others, like a spotty phone signal.↗ Example: She wore a spotty yellow raincoat.↗ · Chickenpox makes your skin spotty and itchy.↗ · The puppy is white and spotty.↗ · Teenagers sometimes get spotty faces.↗ · The signal is spotty out in the country.↗ · His homework was spotty: some answers were great, some were missing.↗ · I like your spotty socks!↗

spouse — Everyday, meaning 1: Your spouse is the person you are married to: your husband or your wife.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal, law) The word used on forms and in law for a married partner, whatever their sex.↗ Example: The form asks for your name and your spouse's name.↗ · Each guest may bring their spouse to the dinner.↗ · In the law, a spouse can inherit money when their husband or wife dies.↗ · My aunt and her spouse live in Dublin.↗ · The king's spouse is called the queen consort.↗ · Spouses often share a bank account.↗ · The teacher wrote «spouse» on the family-tree worksheet.↗ · "My darling dear, my life-long spouse! now will I never part from thee!"↗

spout — Everyday, meaning 1: A spout is a short tube or lip on a teapot, kettle or jug that liquid is poured out of.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A spout is a strong stream of liquid, such as a whale's spout of water and air.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To spout is to come or send out liquid in a strong stream.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (informal) To spout is to talk a lot, often saying silly or boring things: «He spouts nonsense».↗ Everyday, meaning 5: «Up the spout» (UK, informal) means ruined or wasted.↗ Example: Tea poured from the spout of the teapot.↗ · The watering can has a long spout.↗ · We saw a whale's spout far out at sea.↗ · Water spouted from the broken pipe.↗ · The fountain spouts water high into the air.↗ · He's always spouting nonsense about aliens.↗ · The rain made all our plans go up the spout.↗ · The fountains spouted forth the most delicious wine, and whoever bought a penny loaf at the baker's received six large buns, full of raisins, as a present.↗ · And I answered the second time, and said unto him: 'What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that empty the golden oil out of themselves?'↗ (Prophets ZEC.4.12, JPS 1917)↗

spouting — Everyday, meaning 1: (of a liquid) Pouring or shooting out in a strong stream, like water from a fountain or a whale's blowhole.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal, disapproving) Talking a lot, often boringly or without thinking, as in «spouting nonsense».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (Australia, New Zealand) Spouting is the gutter along the edge of a roof that collects rainwater.↗ Example: The whale was spouting water high into the air.↗ · Water came spouting out of the broken pipe.↗ · He's always spouting nonsense about football.↗ · Stop spouting off and listen!↗ · The geyser was spouting every ten minutes.↗ · (NZ) Dad climbed the ladder to clear the spouting.↗ · Yes, the spouting water may tell of her, the waves of the sea may sing of her fame!↗

sprain — Everyday, meaning 1: To sprain your ankle, wrist or knee is to hurt it by twisting it suddenly, so the joint swells and is painful.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (noun) A sprain is this injury.↗ Example: I sprained my ankle playing football.↗ · She has a sprained wrist.↗ · Put ice on the sprain to stop the swelling.↗ · Rest your foot until the sprain heals.↗ · A sprain hurts but it is not a broken bone.↗ · He sprained his knee jumping off the wall.↗ · One morning, however, poor Thasus found that he had sprained his ankle, and could not possibly go a step farther.↗

sprat — Everyday, meaning 1: A sprat is a small sea fish, like a herring but smaller.↗ Example: «I have many sprats,» said another.↗ · The dolphins and the whales talked about the sprat.↗