/ dɒt; NAmE dɑːt/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a small round mark, especially one that is printed :
There are dots above the letters i and j.
Text and graphics are printed at 300 dots per inch.
The helicopters appeared as two black dots on the horizon.
2.
( computing ) a symbol like a full stop / period used to separate parts of a domain name , a URL or an email address
•
IDIOMS
- on the dot
—more at year
■ verb ( -tt- ) [ vn ]
1.
to put a dot above or next to a letter or word :
Why do you never dot your i's?
2.
[ usually passive ] to spread things or people over an area; to be spread over an area :
The countryside was dotted with small villages.
Small villages dot the countryside.
There are lots of Italian restaurants dotted around London.
3.
dot A on / over B | dot B with A to put very small amounts of sth in a number of places on a surface :
Dot the cream all over your face.
Dot your face with the cream.
•
IDIOMS
- dot your i's and cross your t's
••
SYNONYMS
dot
mark ♦ spot
These are all words for a small part on a surface that is a different colour from the rest.
dot
a small round mark on sth, especially one that is printed:
The letters 'i' and 'j' have dots over them.
•
The island is a small green dot on the map.
mark
a noticeable area of colour on the body of a person or animal:
The horse had a white mark on its head.
spot
a small round area that is a different colour or feels different from the surface it is on:
Which has spots, a leopard or a tiger?
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
a dot / mark / spot on sth
with dots / marks / spots
a blue / black / red, etc. dot / mark / spot
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English dott head of a boil . The word is recorded only once in Old English , then not until the late 16th cent., when it is found in the sense a small lump or clot , perhaps influenced by Dutch dot a knot. The sense small mark or spot dates from the mid 17th cent.