n.
Function: transitive verb
Date: 14th century
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