dot

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈdät 

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

dot

2 of 4

verb

ˈdät 

dotted; dotting

transitive verb

1

: to mark with a dot

2

: to intersperse with dots or objects scattered at random

boats dotting the lake

intransitive verb

: to make a dot

dotter noun

dot

3 of 4

noun (2)

ˈdȯt 

: dowry sense 1

DOT

4 of 4

abbreviation

Department of Transportation

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• blotch
• dapple
• eyespot
• fleck
• mottle
• patch
• pip
• point
• speck
• speckle
• splotch
• spot

Verb

• bestrew
• pepper
• scatter
• sow
• spot
• spray
• sprinkle
• strew

Examples of dot in a Sentence

Noun (1)

there was just a dot on the tablecloth where the food had spattered

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

Noun

Arsenal pressed them into corners, and too often all three of PSG’s central midfielders (yellow dots) were in deep positions on the same line. —Liam Tharme, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

But this reunion catalyzes their desire to connect the dots that constitute their parallel lives. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025

Verb

With cranes dotting the skyline and modern buildings materializing everywhere, one uniquely sweet reminder of a simpler Boise remains downtown. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 17 Apr. 2025

As a beautiful bonus, the anthuriums, orchids and philodendrons dotting the grounds guarantee the hotel looks gorgeous all year. —Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English *dot, from Old English dott head of a boil; akin to Old High German tutta nipple

Noun (2)

French, from Latin dot-, dos dowry

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1740, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1822, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dot

• dot-com
• dot-commer
• dot matrix
• dot product
• on the dot
• polka dot
• quantum dot
• since (the) year dot

Rhymes for dot

• aught
• baht
• blot
• bott
• bought
• brought
• caught
• clot
• cot
• cott
• fought
• fraught

Kids Definition

dot

1 of 2 noun

ˈdät 

1

: 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

ˈdät 

: a small spot or speck see maurer's dots, schuffner's dots

Legal Definition

DOT

abbreviation

Department of Transportation