1
: a small spot : speck entry 1
2
: a small round mark: such as
a(1)
: a small point made with a pointed instrument
a dot on the chart marked the ship's position
(2)
: a small round mark used in orthography or punctuation
put a dot over the i
b
: a centered point used as a multiplication sign (as in 6 · 5 = 30)
c(1)
: a point after a note or rest in music indicating augmentation of the time value by one half
(2)
: a point over or under a note indicating that it is to be played staccato
3
: a precise point especially in time
arrived at six on the dot
4
: a short click or buzz forming a letter or part of a letter (as in the Morse code)
5
: a point used to separate components of an address on the Internet
dotted; dotting
1
: to mark with a dot
2
: to intersperse with dots or objects scattered at random
boats dotting the lake
: to make a dot
dotter
noun
Department of Transportation
Synonyms
Examples of dot in a Sentence
Verb
Don't forget to dot the i.
Quaint cottages dot the countryside.
The fields were dotted with wildflowers.
Dot the cream all over your face.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2024
But that was in Austin, a blue dot in the sea of red that is Texas.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
Some eclipses, known as annular eclipses or transits, appear as nothing more than a small black dot crossing the solar disk.
—Adam Frank, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2024
Instead of waiting for a customer to enter a store or go to a retailer’s website, retail data can connect the dots to see what customer is also streaming the latest Star War series on Disney+.
—Gary Drenik, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Dark red dots along the path of totality represent areas that will experience a total solar eclipse, and all other orange areas will see the moon partially cover the sun.
—USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
The entire device is essentially transparent because most light passes through graphene and the dots are too small to see.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Rows of dots sit below a smeary red orb, as if the sun is setting on a land of abstract forms.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
Eventually, casting executives were able to connect the dots and recognized the former model from her centerfold days.
—Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024
Liam Hess, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Suburban Michigan is full of winding roads dotted with identical houses, strip malls stuffed with chain restaurants and big-box stores, and thoroughfares designed for cars, with pedestrian walkways as an afterthought.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Today, the oceanfront enclave is dotted with grand mansions and sprawling estates, including the former home of tobacco heiress and socialite Doris Duke, which now houses the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2024
Doodle Hog Dab and Dot Markers Buy on Amazon $17
A wonderful addition to arts and crafts supplies, these eight dotting markers have a simple twist-off cap, are sized just right, dry quickly, and are fully washable.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 24 Mar. 2024
Small children pushed larger ones in wheelchairs at worrying speeds, caroming off the green and brown beanbag chairs that dotted the plot of artificial earth.
—Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
Individual poppies have begun to dot the landscape of the Antelope Valley reserve, located north of Los Angeles, but the possibility of a widespread bloom is in limbo because of record rain in the area earlier this year.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
Smith now dishes out Louisiana home cooking from a food trailer to customers dining in a makeshift seating area dotted with a few plastic tables and chairs.
—Nidhi Sharma, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2024
Confetti dotted the floor, and children milled about onstage, inspecting a wooden barn.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
The dots refresh for each new image, clattering like the sound of Nerds candies being poured onto a table.
—The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2024
But that was in Austin, a blue dot in the sea of red that is Texas.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
Some eclipses, known as annular eclipses or transits, appear as nothing more than a small black dot crossing the solar disk.
—Adam Frank, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2024
Instead of waiting for a customer to enter a store or go to a retailer’s website, retail data can connect the dots to see what customer is also streaming the latest Star War series on Disney+.
—Gary Drenik, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Dark red dots along the path of totality represent areas that will experience a total solar eclipse, and all other orange areas will see the moon partially cover the sun.
—USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
The entire device is essentially transparent because most light passes through graphene and the dots are too small to see.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Rows of dots sit below a smeary red orb, as if the sun is setting on a land of abstract forms.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
Eventually, casting executives were able to connect the dots and recognized the former model from her centerfold days.
—Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024
Verb
Sweeping meadows dotted with cows and trimmed with wildflowers, soundtracked by a chorus of morning sparrows?
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Suburban Michigan is full of winding roads dotted with identical houses, strip malls stuffed with chain restaurants and big-box stores, and thoroughfares designed for cars, with pedestrian walkways as an afterthought.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Today, the oceanfront enclave is dotted with grand mansions and sprawling estates, including the former home of tobacco heiress and socialite Doris Duke, which now houses the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2024
Doodle Hog Dab and Dot Markers Buy on Amazon $17
A wonderful addition to arts and crafts supplies, these eight dotting markers have a simple twist-off cap, are sized just right, dry quickly, and are fully washable.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 24 Mar. 2024
Small children pushed larger ones in wheelchairs at worrying speeds, caroming off the green and brown beanbag chairs that dotted the plot of artificial earth.
—Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
Individual poppies have begun to dot the landscape of the Antelope Valley reserve, located north of Los Angeles, but the possibility of a widespread bloom is in limbo because of record rain in the area earlier this year.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
Smith now dishes out Louisiana home cooking from a food trailer to customers dining in a makeshift seating area dotted with a few plastic tables and chairs.
—Nidhi Sharma, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2024
Confetti dotted the floor, and children milled about onstage, inspecting a wooden barn.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to dot
Dictionary Entries Near dot
Cite this Entry
“Dot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dot. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dot
1 of 2 noun1
: a small spot : speck
2
: a small round mark made with or as if with a pen: as
a
: a point after a note or rest in music indicating increase of the time value by one half
b
: a centered dot · used as a sign of multiplication
3
: an exact point in time or space
arrived at six on the dot
4
: a short click or buzz forming a letter or part of a letter (as in the Morse code)
dot
2 of 2 verb
dotted; dotting
1
: to mark with a dot
dot an "i"
2
: to cover with or as if with dots
green buds dotted the branches
dotter
noun
Medical Definition
dot
noun
: a small spot or speck see maurer's dots, schuffner's dots
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