point

²point

verb

Definition of POINT

transitive verb

1

a : to furnish with a point : sharpen <pointing 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> <points 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> <pointed 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 points 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 points well>

2

a : to lie extended, aimed, or turned in a particular direction <a directional arrow that pointed 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

Examples of POINT

1. “It's not polite to point,” she said.
2. When I asked the child where his mother was, he pointed in the direction of the house.
3. Pointing with his cane, the old man asked, “Whose dog is that?”.
4. She pointed her finger at the door.
5. They pointed their microphones in my direction.
6. We can leave when the minute hand points to 12.
7. Stand with your arms at your sides and your hands pointing downward.
8. The ship was pointing into the wind.

First Known Use of POINT

14th century