Main Entry: ¹point

Pronunciation: \ˈpȯint\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, partly from Anglo-French, prick, dot, moment, from Latin punctum, from neuter of punctus, past participle of pungere to prick; partly from Anglo-French pointe sharp end, from Vulgar Latin *puncta, from Latin, feminine of punctus, past participle — more at pungent

Date: 13th century

1 a (1) : an individual detail : item (2) : a distinguishing detail <tact is one of her strong points> b : the most important essential in a discussion or matter <missed the whole point of the joke> c : cogency
2 obsolete : physical condition
3 : an end or object to be achieved : purpose <did not see what point there was in continuing the discussion>
4 a : a geometric element that has zero dimensions and a location determinable by an ordered set of coordinates b (1) : a narrowly localized place having a precisely indicated position <walked to a point 50 yards north of the building> (2) : a particular place : locality <have come from distant points> c (1) : an exact moment <at this point I was interrupted> (2) : a time interval immediately before something indicated : verge <at the point of death> d (1) : a particular step, stage, or degree in development <had reached the point where nothing seemed to matter anymore> (2) : a definite position in a scale
5 a : the terminal usually sharp or narrowly rounded part of something : tip b : a weapon or tool having such a part and used for stabbing or piercing: as (1) : arrowhead (2) : spearhead c (1) : the contact or discharge extremity of an electric device (as a spark plug or distributor) (2) chiefly British : an electric outlet
6 a : a projecting usually tapering piece of land or a sharp prominence b (1) : the tip of a projecting body part (2) : tine 2 (3) plural : the extremities or markings of the extremities of an animal especially when of a color differing from the rest of the body c : a railroad switch d : the head of the bow of a stringed instrument
7 : a short musical phrase; especially : a phrase in contrapuntal music
8 a : a very small mark b (1) : punctuation mark; especially : period 5a (1) (2) : decimal point
9 : a lace for tying parts of a garment together used especially in the 16th and 17th centuries
10 : one of usually 11 divisions of a heraldic shield that determines the position of a charge
11 a : one of the 32 equidistant spots of a compass card for indicating direction b : the difference of 11¹⁄₄ degrees between two such successive points c : a direction indicated by a compass point <from all points of the compass>
12 : a small detachment ahead of an advance guard or behind a rear guard
13 a : needlepoint 1 b : lace made with a bobbin
14 : one of 12 spaces marked off on each side of a backgammon board
15 : a unit of measurement: as a (1) : a unit of counting in the scoring of a game or contest (2) : a unit used in evaluating the strength of a bridge hand b : a unit of academic credit c (1) : a unit used in quoting prices (as of stocks, bonds, and commodities) (2) plural : a percentage of the face value of a loan often added as a placement fee or service charge (3) : a percentage of the profits of a business venture (as a motion-picture production) d : a unit of about ¹⁄₇₂ inch used especially to measure the size of type
16 : the action of pointing: as a : the rigidly intent attitude of a hunting dog marking game for a gunner b : the action in dancing of extending one leg and arching the foot so that only the tips of the toes touch the floor
17 : a position of a player in various games (as lacrosse); also : the player of such a position
18 : a number thrown on the first roll of the dice in craps which the player attempts to repeat before throwing a seven — compare missout, pass 13
19 : credit accruing from creating a good impression <scored points for hard work>

— beside the point : irrelevant

— in point of : with regard to : in the matter of <in point of law> <in point of fact>

— to the point : relevant, pertinent <a suggestion that was to the point>