Definition

Noun: 1. A specific type of plant disease: A fungal infection affecting plants, characterized by the appearance of small, dark circular lesions on leaves, stems, or fruit. 2. A problematic or dangerous location: A place known for being the site of frequent accidents, crimes, or other troubles.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Plant Disease):
  • The roses were severely affected by black spot, causing many leaves to turn yellow and fall off.
  • To prevent black spot, ensure good air circulation around your plants.
• Noun (Problematic Location):
  • That sharp bend in the road has been a notorious accident black spot for years.
  • The city council is installing new lighting in crime black spots to improve safety.

Advanced Usage

• "to be a black spot on something": To be a mark of shame or a negative feature on an otherwise good record.
  • The corruption scandal remains a black spot on the company's history.

Variants and Related Words

• Blackspot (noun): An alternative, often hyphenated spelling (black-spot) used in the same contexts.
• Black-spotted (adjective): Describing something marked with black spots.

Synonyms

• (For plant disease): Fungal leaf spot, plant blight.
• (For dangerous location): Trouble spot, danger zone, hotspot.

Related Idioms

• A black mark: A note or record of something bad someone has done, similar to the figurative use of "black spot."
  • Being late was a black mark against his otherwise perfect record.

Noun

1. any of several fungous diseases of plants that produce small black spots on the plant