point

[pɔɪnt]

noun

1》 the tapered, sharp end of a tool, weapon, or other object.

    ↘Archaeology a pointed flake or blade.

    ↘Ballet another term for pointe.

    ↘Boxing the tip of a person's chin as a spot for a blow.

    ↘the prong of a deer's antler.

2》 a dot or other punctuation mark, in particular a full stop.

    ↘a decimal point.

    ↘a dot or small stroke used in Semitic languages to indicate vowels or distinguish particular consonants.

    ↘a very small dot or mark on a surface.

3》 a particular spot, place, or moment.

    ↘(the point of) the verge or brink of.

    ↘(in geometry) something having position but not spatial extent, magnitude, dimension, or direction.

4》 a single item or detail in an extended discussion, list, or text.

    ↘an argument or idea.

    ↘the significant or essential element: come to the point.

    ↘[usu. with negative or in questions] advantage or purpose.

    ↘(often in phrs beside/off/to the point) relevance.

    ↘a distinctive feature or characteristic, typically a good one.

5》 (in sports and games) a mark or unit of scoring awarded for success or performance.

    ↘a unit used in measuring value, achievement, or extent.

    ↘(in piquet) the longest suit in a player's hand, containing a specified number of up to eight cards.

    ↘a unit of weight (2 mg) for diamonds.

6》 each of thirty-two directions marked at equal distances round a compass.

    ↘the angular interval between two successive points of a compass, i.e. one eighth of a right angle (11° 15ʻ).

7》 a narrow piece of land jutting out into the sea.

8》 (usu. points) Brit. a junction of two railway lines, with a pair of linked tapering rails that can be moved laterally to allow a train to pass from one line to the other.

9》 Printing a unit of measurement for type sizes and spacing (in the UK and US 0.351 mm, in Europe 0.376 mm).

10》 Brit. a socket in a wall for connecting a device to an electrical supply or communications network: a power point.

11》 each of a set of electrical contacts in the distributor of a motor vehicle.

12》 Cricket a fielding position on the off side near the batsman.

    ↘Ice Hockey either of two areas to the left and right of the net.

13》 a small leading party of an advanced guard of troops.

    ↘chiefly N. Amer. the position at the head of a column or wedge of troops.

14》 the extremities of a horse or cat, such as the face, paws, and tail of a Siamese cat.

15》 Hunting a spot to which a straight run is made.

    ↘a run of this type.

    ↘the action or position of a dog in pointing.

16》 historical a tagged piece of ribbon or cord used for lacing a garment or attaching a hose to a doublet.

17》 a short piece of cord at the lower edge of a sail for tying up a reef.

18》 Music an important phrase or subject, especially in a contrapuntal composition.

verb

1》 (often point at/to) direct someone's attention in a particular direction by extending one's finger.

    ↘(point something out) make someone aware of a fact or circumstance.

    ↘face in or indicate a particular direction.

2》 direct or aim (something).

    ↘(often point to) cite or function as evidence.

    ↘(point something up) reveal the true nature or importance of something.

3》 chiefly Ballet extend (the toes or feet) by tensing the foot and ankle so as to form a point.

4》 fill in or repair the joints of (brickwork or masonry) with smoothly finished mortar or cement.

5》 give a sharp, tapered point to.

6》 (of a dog) indicate the presence of (game) by acting as pointer.

7》 insert points in (written text of Semitic languages).

    ↘mark (Psalms) with signs for chanting.

Phrases

beside (or off) the point irrelevant.

a case in point an instance or example that illustrates what is being discussed.

make a point of make a special and noticeable effort to do something.

point the finger openly accuse someone or apportion blame.

the point of no return the point in a journey or enterprise at which it becomes essential to continue to the end.

point of sailing a sailing boat's heading in relation to the wind.

score points deliberately make oneself appear superior to someone else by making clever remarks.

take someone's point chiefly Brit. accept the validity of someone's idea or argument.

up to a point to some extent but not completely.

Origin

ME: the noun partly from OFr. point, from L. punctum 'something that is pricked'; partly from OFr. pointe, from L. puncta 'pricking'; the verb is from OFr. pointer.