point

¹point

noun \ˈpȯint\

Definition of POINT

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>

Examples of POINT

1. She showed us several graphs to illustrate the point she was making.
2. I see your point, but I don't think everyone will agree.
3. There's no use in arguing the point.
4. He made a very good point about the need for change.
5. Let me make one final point.
6. That's the point I've been trying to make.
7. “What's your point?” “Actually, I have two points.”
8. My point is simply that we must do something to help the homeless.
9. “If we leave now, we won't make it back in time.” “That's a good point.”
10. There are two critical points that I would like to discuss.

Origin of POINT

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

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to POINT

Synonyms

juncture, moment of truth

Related Words

beat, crack, flash, heartbeat, instant, jiffy, minute, moment, nanosecond, second, shake, split second, tick, trice, twinkle, wink; bit, spell, stretch, while; brink, cusp, nick, threshold, verge; crisis, crunch time, wire

Near Antonyms

aggregate, composite, compound, conglomerate; entirety, sum, summation, total, totality, whole

Rhymes with POINT

joint

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