ˈpəŋ(k)ch(əw)əl, -(k)sh- adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin punctualis, from Latin punctus pricking, point (from punctus, past participle of pungere to prick) + -alis -al — more at pungent
1.
a. : of or relating to a point
b. : of or relating to punctuation
2. : having the nature or a property of a point
a punctual light source
as
a. : belonging to a definite point of time
achievements … are of a continuous rather than punctual nature — J.J.Obermann
b. : having fixity
a punctual point in space
: confined to a locale : concentrated
a punctual seat of the soul — James Ward
c. : lacking extent or duration
the particles which result from a quantizing of a wave equation appear to be punctual — Werner Heisenberg
3. : pointed in expression or conception : being to the point : definite , explicit , accurate ; also : dealing or dealt with point by point : detailed
with punctual care — William Wordsworth
4. : marked by attention to small details and nice points : particular about minutiae : punctilious
5.
a. : marked by exact adherence to an appointed time
punctual , commonplace, keeping all appointments — L.P.Smith
attracted notice by his punctual discharge of his duties — J.A.Froude
b. : marked by a regular predictable time schedule without unexpected deviation
in a land of punctual trains — Alzada Comstock
punctual revolution of the seasons — Osbert Sitwell
6. : perfective 2
Synonyms: see careful