[ pɔɪnt ]
■ noun
1》 the tapered, sharp end of a tool, weapon, or other object.
↘ Archaeology a ~ed flake or blade.
↘ Ballet another term for ~e .
↘ Boxing the tip of a person's chin as a spot for a blow.
↘the prong of a deer's antler.
2》 a dot or other punctuation mark, in particular a full stop.
↘a decimal ~.
↘a dot or small stroke used in Semitic languages to indicate vowels or distinguish particular consonants.
↘a very small dot or mark on a surface.
3》 a particular spot, place, or moment.
↘( the ~ of ) the verge or brink of.
↘(in geometry) something having position but not spatial extent, magnitude, dimension, or direction.
4》 a single item or detail in an extended discussion, list, or text.
↘an argument or idea.
↘the significant or essential element: come to the ~.
↘[usu. with negative or in questions ] advantage or purpose.
↘(often in phrs beside/off/to the ~ ) relevance.
↘a distinctive feature or characteristic, typically a good one.
5》 (in sports and games) a mark or unit of scoring awarded for success or performance.
↘a unit used in measuring value, achievement, or extent.
↘(in piquet) the longest suit in a player's hand, containing a specified number of up to eight cards.
↘a unit of weight (2 mg) for diamonds.
6》 each of thirty-two directions marked at equal distances round a compass.
↘the angular interval between two successive ~s of a compass, i.e. one eighth of a right angle (11° 15ʻ).
7》 a narrow piece of land jutting out into the sea.
8》 (usu. ~s ) Brit. a junction of two railway lines, with a pair of linked tapering rails that can be moved laterally to allow a train to pass from one line to the other.
9》 Printing a unit of measurement for type sizes and spacing (in the UK and US 0.351 mm, in Europe 0.376 mm).
10》 Brit. a socket in a wall for connecting a device to an electrical supply or communications network: a power ~.
11》 each of a set of electrical contacts in the distributor of a motor vehicle.
12》 Cricket a fielding position on the off side near the batsman.
↘ Ice Hockey either of two areas to the left and right of the net.
13》 a small leading party of an advanced guard of troops.
↘ chiefly N. Amer. the position at the head of a column or wedge of troops.
14》 the extremities of a horse or cat, such as the face, paws, and tail of a Siamese cat.
15》 Hunting a spot to which a straight run is made.
↘a run of this type.
↘the action or position of a dog in ~ing.
16》 historical a tagged piece of ribbon or cord used for lacing a garment or attaching a hose to a doublet.
17》 a short piece of cord at the lower edge of a sail for tying up a reef.
18》 Music an important phrase or subject, especially in a contrapuntal composition.
■ verb
1》 (often ~ at/to ) direct someone's attention in a particular direction by extending one's finger.
↘( ~ something out ) make someone aware of a fact or circumstance.
↘face in or indicate a particular direction.
2》 direct or aim (something).
↘(often ~ to ) cite or function as evidence.
↘( ~ something up ) reveal the true nature or importance of something.
3》 chiefly Ballet extend (the toes or feet) by tensing the foot and ankle so as to form a ~.
4》 fill in or repair the joints of (brickwork or masonry) with smoothly finished mortar or cement.
5》 give a sharp, tapered ~ to.
6》 (of a dog) indicate the presence of (game) by acting as ~er.
7》 insert ~s in (written text of Semitic languages).
↘mark (Psalms) with signs for chanting.
Phrases
beside (or off ) the ~ irrelevant.
a case in ~ an instance or example that illustrates what is being discussed.
make a ~ of make a special and noticeable effort to do something.
~ the finger openly accuse someone or apportion blame.
the ~ of no return the ~ in a journey or enterprise at which it becomes essential to continue to the end.
~ of sailing a sailing boat's heading in relation to the wind.
score ~s deliberately make oneself appear superior to someone else by making clever remarks.
take someone's ~ chiefly Brit. accept the validity of someone's idea or argument.
up to a ~ to some extent but not completely.
Origin
ME: the noun partly from OFr. ~ , from L. punctum 'something that is pricked'; partly from OFr. ~e , from L. puncta 'pricking'; the verb is from OFr. ~er .