a light meter that takes a reading from a small precise area of the subject being photographed
spot meter in American English
noun
Photography
an exposure meter that measures light reflected from only a small area of a subject or scene
Word origin
[1950–55]This word is first recorded in the period 1950–55. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: conflict of interest, drip-dry, hot line, point-of-sale, wiretap