sportsman
1346
man's JACKET, especially one made of TWEED or a similar material, worn on INFORMAL occasions
sports·man /'spɔːtsmən 'spɔːr-/, sports·wom·an /-,wʊmən/ fem. — n pl. -men /mən/ 1 someone who plays or enjoys usually several different sports, especially outdoor sports: a fine/talented sportsman 2 someone who plays sports in a fair and generous spirit
sports·man·like /'spɔːtsmənlaɪk 'spɔːr-/ adj showing sportsmanship
sports·man·ship /'spɔːtsmənʃɪp 'spɔːr-/ n [U] a spirit of honest fair play, especially in sports
'sports ,scholarship n AmE money given to a college student to pay for their education because it is expected that they will be very good at sports; especially football: He went to Alabama on a sports scholarship.
Sometimes people think of sports scholarships as being given to people who would not otherwise be able to attend university, because their GRADES are not good enough. People also sometimes think of sports scholarships in connection with colleges that are better known for their sports teams than their ACADEMIC standards.
sports·wear /'spɔːtswɛːr -ɔːr-/ n [U] clothes worn especially when playing sport: our new range of sportswear
,sport-u'tility ,vehicle n AmE an SUV
sport·y /'spɔːti 'spɔːrti/ adj infml 1 especially BrE good at and/or fond of sport: I'm not very sporty. 2 (especially of clothes) good-looking in a bright informal way: sporty new trousers —iness n [U]
spot¹ /spɒt||spɑːt/ n 1 [C(of)] a usually round part or area that is different from the main surface, in colour or some other way: a white dress with blue spots | There was a sticky spot on the floor. | He wiped a spot of black paint off the door handle. 2 [C] a small round raised diseased mark on the skin: Did you know you had a spot on your nose? | With measles you get spots all over your skin. 3 [C] a particular place: a nice spot for a picnic | This is our favourite holiday spot. | On this map X marks the spot where the treasure is buried. | He stood rooted to the spot (=unable to move) in fear. | War journalists have to travel to the world's trouble spots. | Can you show me the exact spot where it hurts? | (fig.) It's been a terrible week at the office, but there was one bright spot: the new assistant is very good. → see also BEAUTY SPOT, BLACK SPOT, BLIND SPOT, HIGH SPOT, HOT SPOT 4 [S] an area of mind or feelings: I'm afraid you touched a rather tender spot when you mentioned his former wife. → see also SOFT SPOT 5 [S(of)] BrE infml a little bit; small amount: Let's have a spot of lunch | I'm afraid there's been a spot of bother. (=a bit of trouble) 6 [C] infml a difficult position or situation; FIX: Now we're really in a spot! 7 [C] a place in a broadcast; SLOT: He got a guest spot on a well-known variety show. 8 [C] infml a position in an organization, system of ranks etc: She finished in the top spot/the number-one spot in the world tennis rankings. 9 [C] infml for SPOTLIGHT 10 [S] AmE infml a piece of paper money (BILL) of the amount stated: a ten-spot (=a ten-dollar bill) 11 hit the spot AmE infml to satisfy one's hunger, especially with something that tastes good: That pie really hit the spot, Mildred. 12 on the spot a) at once: Anyone breaking the rules will be asked to leave on the spot. b) at the place of the action: When the fighting started police and reporters were soon on the spot. c) without moving away from where one is: The gym teacher made us do running on the spot. d) in a position of having to make the right answer or decision: His direct question put me on the spot; I couldn't make an excuse or lie. 13 Out, damned spot! quote a phrase from SHAKESPEARE's play MACBETH said by Lady Macbeth when trying to remove spots of blood from her hands after she has killed Duncan
spot² v -tt- 1 [T] to pick out with the eye; see or recognize, especially with effort or difficulty: He's a very tall man, easy to spot in a crowd. | She spotted a bad mistake in the accounts. | They were spotted by the police as they were entering the bank. | [+obj+v-ing] He was spotted leaving the building soon afterwards. 2 [T(with) usually pass.] to mark with (coloured) spots: I chose a white cloth spotted with green. | a spotted dog 3 [T(with) usually pass.] to place or scatter one by one on a surface, in an area etc: The yellow fields were spotted with red poppies. 4 [it+l] BrE (of rain) to fall lightly and irregularly: It's spotting (with rain) again. 5 [T+obj{(i)+obj(d)}] AmE infml to allow as an advantage in a game: He spotted his opponent three points and still won. 6 [T] to help by preventing a fall in a sport, e.g. GYMNASTICS: The coach spotted her on the dismount.
spot³ adj [A] tech for buying or paying at once, not at some future time: They won't give credit; they want spot cash. | What's the spot price for oil? | spot wheat
spot⁴ adv [+prep] BrE infml exactly: She arrived spot on time. → see also SPOT-ON
,spot 'check n [(on, for)] an examination of some members of a group that are chosen, usually by chance, as being typical of the whole group: The police didn't search everyone for drugs; they just made spot checks. —spot-check v [T(for)]
spot·less /'spɒtləs 'spɑːt-/ adj completely clean: a spotless white shirt | (fig.) a spotless reputation —ly adv —ness n [U]
spot·light¹ /'spɒtlat 'spɑːt-/ n 1 [C] (a bright round area of light made by) a lamp with a narrow beam which can be directed at a particular object: The spotlight followed her round the stage. 2 [the] public attention: Throughout his political career he's always been in the spotlight.
spotlight² v [T] -lighted or -lit /lɪt/ to direct attention to: The article spotlights the difficulties of the unemployed.
,spot-'on adj, adv BrE infml exactly right: Your judgment/guess turned out to be spot-on. → see also SPOT
,spotted 'dick n [C;U] a heavy sweet boiled British PUDDING with CURRANTS in it. It is thought of as typical old-fashioned British food.
spot·ter¹ /'spɒtər 'l'spɑːr-/ n especially BrE a person who looks for or watches the stated thing: a bird spotter | a keen train spotter
spotter² adj [A] used for keeping watch on an enemy's actions: a spotter plane
spot·ting /'spɒtɪŋ 'spɑː-/ n [U] bird-spotting/train-spotting etc BrE the activity of watching birds, trains etc for pleasure
spot·ty /'spɒti 'spɑːti/ adj usually derog 1 BrE infml having spots on the face: spotty youths 2 AmE with some parts different from others, especially in quality; PATCHY: a rather spotty performance
spouse /spaʊs, spaʊz/ n usually fml or law a husband or wife
spout¹ /spaʊt/ v 1 [I;T(OUT)] to come out or throw out in a forceful stream; GUSH: Water was spouting out from the pipe. | The well spouted oil. 2 [T] infml derog to pour out in a stream of words: He's always spouting poetry at people. | to spout platitudes 3 [I] (of a WHALE) to throw out a tall stream of water from a hole in the head —er n
spout² n 1 an opening from which liquid comes out, such as a tube, pipe, or small U- or V-shaped lip for pouring liquid from a container: the spout of a teapot 2 a forceful especially rising stream of liquid → see also WATERSPOUT 3 up the spout BrE infml a) in a hopeless state or position b) PREGNANT
sprain¹ /spreɪn/ v [T] to damage (a joint in the body) by sudden twisting: I've sprained my ankle. | a sprained wrist
sprain² n an act or result of spraining a joint: That's a bad/nasty sprain. → compare STRAIN
sprang /spræŋ/ past tense of SPRING
sprat /spræt/ n a small European HERRING
Sprat, Jack → see JACK SPRAT
spraun·cy /'sprɔːnsi/ adj BrE infml 1 lively 2 stylish
sprawl¹ /sprɔːl/ v 1 [+adv/prep; T+obj+adv/prep; usually pass.] to stretch one's body out wide or awkwardly in lying or sitting: He found her sprawled out in a comfortable chair asleep. 2 [+adv/prep] to spread out ungracefully over a wide area: The city sprawls for miles in each direction. | a sprawling refugee camp
sprawl² n [C usually sing.] 1 a sprawling position of the body 2 an irregular ungraceful spreading mass: This area is a classic example of urban sprawl. (=of city buildings spreading in an unplanned and unattractive way)
spray¹ /spreɪ/ v 1 [+adv/prep] (of liquid) to be scattered or forced out in very small drops under pressure: There was a hole in the hose, and water sprayed out all over me. 2 [T] to