I. ˈpȯint noun
Etymology: Middle English, partly from Anglo-French, prick, dot, moment, from Latin punctum, from neuter of punctus, past participle of pungere to prick; partly from Anglo-French pointe sharp end, from Vulgar Latin * puncta, from Latin, feminine of punctus, past participle — more at pungent
Date: 13th century
1.
a.
(1) : an individual detail : item
(2) : a distinguishing detail
tact is one of her strong point s
b. : the most important essential in a discussion or matter
missed the whole point of the joke
c. : cogency
2. obsolete : physical condition
3. : an end or object to be achieved : purpose
did not see what point there was in continuing the discussion
4.
a. : a geometric element that has zero dimensions and a location determinable by an ordered set of coordinates
b.
(1) : a narrowly localized place having a precisely indicated position
walked to a point 50 yards north of the building
(2) : a particular place : locality
have come from distant point s
c.
(1) : an exact moment
at this point I was interrupted
(2) : a time interval immediately before something indicated : verge
at the point of death
d.
(1) : a particular step, stage, or degree in development
had reached the point where nothing seemed to matter anymore
(2) : a definite position in a scale
5.
a. : the terminal usually sharp or narrowly rounded part of something : tip
b. : a weapon or tool having such a part and used for stabbing or piercing: as
(1) : arrowhead
(2) : spearhead
c.
(1) : the contact or discharge extremity of an electric device (as a spark plug or distributor)
(2) chiefly British : an electric outlet
6.
a. : a projecting usually tapering piece of land or a sharp prominence
b.
(1) : the tip of a projecting body part
(2) : tine 2
(3) plural : the extremities or markings of the extremities of an animal especially when of a color differing from the rest of the body
c. : a railroad switch
d. : the head of the bow of a stringed instrument
7. : a short musical phrase ; especially : a phrase in contrapuntal music
8.
a. : a very small mark
b.
(1) : punctuation mark ; especially : period 5a (1)
(2) : decimal point
9. : a lace for tying parts of a garment together used especially in the 16th and 17th centuries
10. : one of usually 11 divisions of a heraldic shield that determines the position of a charge
11.
a. : one of the 32 equidistant spots of a compass card for indicating direction
b. : the difference of 11 1/4 degrees between two such successive points
c. : a direction indicated by a compass point
from all point s of the compass
12. : a small detachment ahead of an advance guard or behind a rear guard
13.
a. : needlepoint 1
b. : lace made with a bobbin
14. : one of 12 spaces marked off on each side of a backgammon board
15. : a unit of measurement: as
a.
(1) : a unit of counting in the scoring of a game or contest
(2) : a unit used in evaluating the strength of a bridge hand
b. : a unit of academic credit
c.
(1) : a unit used in quoting prices (as of stocks, bonds, and commodities)
(2) plural : a percentage of the face value of a loan often added as a placement fee or service charge
(3) : a percentage of the profits of a business venture (as a motion-picture production)
d. : a unit of about 1/72 inch used especially to measure the size of type
16. : the action of pointing: as
a. : the rigidly intent attitude of a hunting dog marking game for a gunner
b. : the action in dancing of extending one leg and arching the foot so that only the tips of the toes touch the floor
17. : a position of a player in various games (as lacrosse) ; also : the player of such a position
18. : a number thrown on the first roll of the dice in craps which the player attempts to repeat before throwing a seven — compare missout , pass 13
19. : credit accruing from creating a good impression
scored point s for hard work
•
- beside the point
- in point of
- to the point
II. verb
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to furnish with a point : sharpen
point ing a pencil with a knife
b. : to give added force, emphasis, or piquancy to
point up a remark
2. : to scratch out the old mortar from the joints of (as a brick wall) and fill in with new material
3.
a.
(1) : to mark the pauses or grammatical divisions in : punctuate
(2) : to separate (a decimal fraction) from an integer by a decimal point — usually used with off
b. : to mark (as Hebrew words) with diacritics (as vowel points)
4.
a.
(1) : to indicate the position or direction of especially by extending a finger
point the way home
(2) : to direct someone's attention to
point the way to new knowledge — Elizabeth Hall
— usually used with out or up
point out a mistake
point s up the difference
b. of a hunting dog : to indicate the presence and place of (game) by a point
5.
a. : to cause to be turned in a particular direction
point a gun
point ed the boat upstream
b. : to extend (a leg) and arch (the foot) in executing a point in dancing
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to indicate the fact or probability of something specified
everything point s to a bright future
b. : to indicate the position or direction of something especially by extending a finger
point at the map
c. : to direct attention
can point with pride to their own traditions
d. : to point game
a dog that point s well
2.
a. : to lie extended, aimed, or turned in a particular direction
a directional arrow that point ed to the north
b. : to execute a point in dancing
3. of a ship : to sail close to the wind
4. : to train for a particular contest