Definition of 'point'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense points
, present participle pointing
, past tense, past participle pointed
3. singular noun
The point of what you are saying or discussing is the most important part that provides a reason or explanation for the rest.
7. singular noun [oft at NOUN]
You use point to refer to a particular time, or to a particular stage in the development of something.
8. countable noun
The point of something such as a pin, needle, or knife is the thin, sharp end of it.
9.
11. countable noun
12. plural noun
On a railway track, the points are the levers and rails at a place where two tracks join or separate. The points enable a train
to move from one track to another.
[British]regional note: in AM, use switches13. countable noun
14. verb
If you point at a person or thing, you hold out your finger towards them in order to make someone
notice them.
16. verb
If something points to a place or points in a particular direction, it shows where that place is or it faces in that direction.
17. verb
If something points to a particular situation, it suggests that the situation exists or is likely to occur.
Earlier reports pointed to pupils working harder, more continuously, and with enthusiasm. [VERB to noun]
18. verb
If you point to something that has happened or that is happening, you are using it as proof that a particular situation exists.
19. verb
20. See also pointed, breaking point, focal point, point of sale, point of view, power point, sticking point, vantage point
21.
See beside the point
22.
23.
24.
See make a point of
25.
See on the point of
26.
See to the point
27.
See up to a point
28.
See on point
29.
See on point
30.
See on point
31. a case in point
32. in point of fact
34. a sore point
Phrasal verbs:
See point out
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
You may also like
Word Frequency
point in British English
noun
2.
a location, spot, or position
3.
any dot or mark used in writing or printing, such as a decimal point or a full stop
4. short for vowel point
5.
the sharp tapered end of a pin, knife, etc
6.
a pin, needle, or other object having such a point
7. mathematics
a.
a geometric element having no dimensions and whose position in space is located by means of its
coordinates
b.
a location
point of inflection
8.
a promontory, usually smaller than a cape
9.
a specific condition or degree
10.
a moment
at that point I left the room
11.
an important or fundamental reason, aim, etc
the point of this exercise is to train new teachers
13.
a suggestion or tip
14.
a detail or item
15.
an important or outstanding characteristic, physical attribute, etc
he has his good points
16.
a distinctive characteristic or quality of an animal, esp one used as a standard in
judging livestock
18. ballet (often plural)
the tip of the toes
19.
a single unit for measuring or counting, as in the scoring of a game
21. printing
23. nautical
a.
one of the 32 marks on the circumference of a compass card indicating direction
b.
the angle of 11°15′ between two adjacent marks
c.
a point on the horizon indicated by such a mark
25.
any of the numbers cast in the first throw in craps with which one neither wins nor loses by throwing them: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10
26.
either of the two electrical contacts that make or break the current flow in the distributor of an internal-combustion engine
27. British (often plural)
a junction of railway tracks in which a pair of rails can be moved so that a train can be directed
onto either of two lines
US and Canadian equivalent: switch28. (often plural)
29. backgammon
a place or position on the board
31.
an aggressive position adopted in bayonet or sword drill
32. military
the position at the head of a body of troops, or a person in this position
35.
any diacritic used in a writing system, esp in a phonetic transcription, to indicate modifications of vowels or consonants
37.
the act of pointing
38. ice hockey
the position just inside the opponents' blue line
39. See beside the point
40. See case in point
41. See in point of
42. See make a point of
44. See on the point of
45. See score points off
46. See stretch a point
47. See to the point
48. See up to a point
verb
49. (usually foll by at or to)
to indicate the location or direction of by or as by extending (a finger or other
pointed object) towards it
she pointed to the front door
don't point that gun at me
50. (intr; usually foll by at or to)
to indicate or identify a specific person or thing among several
I pointed at the bottle I wanted
all evidence pointed to Donald as the murderer
51. (transitive)
to direct or cause to go or face in a specific direction or towards a place or goal
point me in the right direction
53. (intransitive)
(of gun dogs) to indicate the place where game is lying by standing rigidly with the muzzle turned in its direction
55. (transitive) music
to mark (a psalm text) with vertical lines to indicate the points at which the music changes during
chanting
56.
to steer (a sailing vessel) close to the wind or (of a sailing vessel) to sail close
to the wind
57. (transitive) phonetics
to provide (a letter or letters) with diacritics
58. (transitive)
to provide (a Hebrew or similar text) with vowel points
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C13: from Old French: spot, from Latin punctum a point, from pungere to pierce; also influenced by Old French pointe pointed end, from Latin pungereWord Frequency
point in American English
noun
1.
a minute mark or dot
2.
a dot in printing or writing, as a period, decimal point, vowel point, etc.
3.
a.
an element in geometry having definite position, but no size, shape, or extension
a line between two points
4.
b.
the player at such a position
5.
a particular time; exact moment
the point of death
6.
a stage, condition, level, or degree reached or indicated
a boiling point
7.
a particular detail or element; item
to explain a problem point by point
8.
a.
a distinguishing feature; characteristic
b.
a physical characteristic or quality of an animal, used as a standard in judging
breeding
9.
a unit, as of measurement, value, game scores, etc.
10.
a.
a sharp or projecting end of something; tip
b.
something with a sharp end
11.
needlepoint lace
12.
a projecting or tapering piece of land; promontory; cape
13. [pl.]
a horse's extremities
15.
a.
the exact or essential fact or idea under consideration
b.
the main idea, striking feature, or effective twist of a joke, story, etc.
16.
a purpose; aim; object; use
no point in complaining
17.
18.
the posture of a hunting dog to show the presence and position of game
19. US
the number that the thrower must roll again before rolling a seven in order to win
in craps
20.
a unit used in rationing commodities, as in time of war
21.
a jeweler's unit of weight, equal to 1⁄100 carat
a 10-point diamond
22. Obsolete
a cord with metal tips, used to lace up articles of clothing
23. Backgammon
any of the 24 triangular spaces on the board
24. Ballet
the position of being on the tips of the toes
26. US, Education
a unit used in grading school or college work and figuring a student's academic average
a grade of A is worth four points per credit
27. Electricity
a.
28. Finance
a.
a standard unit of value used in quoting changes in the prices of stocks, bonds,
etc.; specif., a $1 change in the price of a stock
b.
a unit equal to one percent
a two-point rise in interest rates
c.
an amount equal to one percent; specif., an amount equal to one percent of a loan
secured by a mortgage: one or more points may be paid in advance by the borrower
29. Heraldry
any of certain areas on a shield
30. Military
a small party before an advance guard or behind a rear guard
31. Navigation
a.
any of the 32 marks showing direction on the circumference of a compass card
b.
any of the corresponding positions on the horizon
c.
the angle between two successive compass points, equal to 111⁄4°
32. Printing
a measuring unit for type bodies and printed matter, equal to about 1⁄72 of an inch: there are 12 points in a pica
verb transitive
34.
a.
to put punctuation marks or pauses in
b.
to put vowel points on (Hebrew characters)
c.
to mark off (sums or numbers) with points, as esp. a decimal fraction from a whole
number
with off35.
to sharpen to a point, as a pencil
36.
to give (a story, remark, anecdote, action, etc.) extra force or special emphasis, as by repetition or elaboration
usually with up37.
to show or call attention to
usually with out to point the way, to point out a person's shortcomings
38.
to aim or direct (a gun, finger, etc.)
39.
to extend the foot so as to bring (the toe) more nearly in line with the leg
40.
to show the presence and location of (game) by standing still and facing toward it
said of hunting dogs verb intransitive
42.
to direct one's finger or the like (at or to something)
43.
44.
to aim or be directed (to or toward something); extend in a specified direction
45.
to point game
said of a hunting dog46. Nautical
to sail close to the wind
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
pointable (ˈpointable)
adjective
Word origin
OFr, dot, prick < L punctum, dot, neut. of punctus, pp. of pungere, to prick (< IE base *peuĝ-, *peu, to prick, jab > Ger fichte, spruce tree, L pugil, boxer, pugnus, fist); also < OFr pointe, sharp end < ML puncta < L punctusWord Frequency
point in American English
(pɔint)
noun
1.
a sharp or tapering end, as of a dagger
2.
a projecting part of anything
A point of land juts into the bay
3.
a tapering extremity
the points of the fingers
4.
something having a sharp or tapering end
a pen point
5.
a pointed tool or instrument, as an etching needle
6.
a stone implement with a tapering end found in some Middle and Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic cultures and used primarily for hunting
7.
a mark made with or as if with the sharp end of something
Her sharp heels left points in the carpet
8.
a mark of punctuation
10. See under decimal fraction
11. Phonetics
a diacritic indicating a vowel or other modification of sound
13.
something that has position but not extension, as the intersection of two lines
14.
a place of which the position alone is considered; spot
We're leaving for Chicago and points west
15.
any definite position, as in a scale, course, etc.
the boiling point
16. (in acupuncture)
a particular spot on the body at which a needle may be inserted, as to relieve pain
17. Nautical
any of 32 separate horizontal directions, 11° 15′ apart, as indicated on the card
of a compass or gauged with reference to the heading of a vessel
19.
a degree or stage
frankness to the point of insult
21.
a critical position in a course of affairs
Morale had reached a low point
23.
the important or essential thing
the point of the matter
25.
a particular aim, end, or purpose
He carried his point
26.
a hint or suggestion
points on getting a job
27.
a single or separate article or item, as in an extended whole; a detail or particular
the fine points of a contract
28.
an individual part or element of something
noble points in her character
29.
a distinguishing mark or quality, esp. one of an animal, used as a standard in stockbreeding,
judging, etc.
30. See points
31.
a single unit, as in counting
32.
a unit of count in the score of a game
Our team won by five points
33. (in craps)
the number that must be thrown to win but not including 7 or 11 on the first roll
Your point is 4
34. Ice Hockey
35. Basketball
a position in the front court, usually taken by the guard in charge of setting up
the team's offense
36. Cricket
a.
the position of the fielder who plays a short distance in front of and to the offside of the batsman
b.
the fielder playing this position
38. Hunting
a.
the action of a hunting dog that indicates the presence and location of game by standing
rigid and directing its head toward the game
b.
the position taken by a hunting dog in pointing game
39.
a branch of an antler of a deer
an eight-point buck
41.
one of the narrow tapering spaces marked on a backgammon board
42. Education
a single credit, usually corresponding to an hour's class work per week for one semester
43. Electricity
a. Also called: breaker point
either of a pair of contacts tipped with tungsten or platinum that make or break current
flow in a distributor, as in an automobile
b. Brit
an outlet or socket
44. Commerce
a.
a unit of price quotation, as in the U.S., one dollar in stock transactions, one hundredth of a cent in cotton and coffee, or one cent in oil, grain, pork, etc.
The price of stock went up two points today
b. (esp. in motion pictures)
a percentage point, usually of the gross profits, granted to someone who agrees to invest or otherwise participate in a business
project
The star of the movie recieved a million dollar guarantee and five points
45.
one percent of the face value of a loan, esp. a mortgage loan, added on as a placement fee or a service charge and paid in advance or upon closing of the loan
46. Jewelry
a unit of weight equal to 1⁄100 of a carat
47. Military
a.
a patrol or reconnaissance unit that goes ahead of the advance party of an advance guard, or follows the rear party of the rear guard
b.
the stroke in bayonet drill or combat
48. Printing
a.
a unit of type measurement equal to 0.013835 inch (1⁄72 inch), or 1⁄12 pica
Compare Didot point systemb. Also called: press-point (in a press)
one of several metal prongs for perforating the sheet so that it will be in register when the reverse is printed
49.
a unit of measure of paper or card thickness, equal to 0.001 inch
50. See vaccine point
51. See point lace
52.
any lace made by hand
54. Railroads
a.
56.
act of pointing
58. obsolete
an end or conclusion
59. obsolete
a pointed weapon, as a dagger
60. obsolete
a condition
61. See at the point of
62. See at this point in time
63. See in point
64. See in point of
65. See make a point of
66. See make points with
67. See strain a point
68. See to the point
transitive verb
69.
to direct (the finger, a weapon, the attention, etc.) at, to, or upon something
70. (usually fol. by out)
to indicate the presence or position of
to point out an object in the sky
71. (usually fol. by out)
to direct attention to
to point out the advantages of a proposal
72.
to furnish with a point or points; sharpen
to point a lead pencil
73.
to mark with one or more points, dots, or the like
74. Sculpture
75.
to punctuate, as writing
76. Phonetics
to mark (letters) with points
77. (usually fol. by off)
to separate (figures) by dots or points
78. (often fol. by up)
to give greater or added force to
to point up the necessity for caution
79. Hunting (of a hunting dog)
to indicate the presence and location of (game) by standing rigid and facing toward
the game
80. (in masonry)
a.
to fill the joints of (brickwork, stonework, etc.) with mortar or cement treated in
various ways with tools after application
b.
to dress the surface of (a stone) with a pointed tool
81. Engineering
a.
to narrow the end of (a rod) for passing through the dies of a drawbench
b.
to narrow the end of (a tube) over the head of a pin that is gripped to pull the tube through the dies of a drawbench
intransitive verb
82.
to indicate position or direction, as with the finger
83.
to direct the mind or thought in some direction; call attention to
Everything points to his guilt
84.
to aim
85.
to have a tendency toward something
Economic conditions point to further inflation
86.
to have a specified direction
The sign pointed west
87.
to face in a particular direction, as a building
88. Hunting (of a hunting dog)
to point game
89. Nautical
to sail close to the wind
90. (of an abscess)
to come to a head
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1175–1225; (n.) ME point(e); partly ‹ OF point dot, mark, place, moment ‹ L pūnctum, n. use of neut. ptp. of pungere to prick, stab (cf. pungent); partly ‹ OF pointe sharp end ‹ ML pūncta, n. use of L: fem. of ptp. of pungere; (v.) ME pointen; partly deriv. of the n., partly ‹ MF pointer, deriv. of pointe (n.)]Examples of 'point' in a sentence
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In other languages
point
British English: point
/pɔɪnt/ NOUN
something stated A point is an idea or a fact.
The research made some useful points.
- American English: point /ˈpɔɪnt/
- Arabic: نُقْطَة
- Brazilian Portuguese: ponto ideia
- Chinese: 点
- Croatian: poanta
- Czech: jádro věci
- Danish: pointe
- Dutch: punt spits
- European Spanish: punto espacio
- Finnish: asian ydin
- French: point
- German: Sinn Diskussion
- Greek: σημείο
- Italian: punto
- Japanese: 要点
- Korean: 사실
- Norwegian: poeng hovedsak
- Polish: punkt
- European Portuguese: ponto de vista ideia
- Romanian: punct de vedere
- Russian: мысль
- Latin American Spanish: punto unidad de valoración
- Swedish: punkt
- Thai: ประเด็น
- Turkish: nokta yer
- Ukrainian: ідея
- Vietnamese: điểm
British English: point
/pɔɪnt/ VERB
If you point at something, you stick out your finger to show where it is.
I pointed at the boy sitting near me.
- American English: point /ˈpɔɪnt/
- Arabic: يُشِيرُ إِلى
- Brazilian Portuguese: apontar
- Chinese: 指向
- Croatian: uprijeti
- Czech: ukázat
- Danish: pege
- Dutch: wijzen
- European Spanish: señalar apuntar
- Finnish: osoittaa suuntaa tms.
- French: montrer du doigt
- German: zeigen
- Greek: δείχνω
- Italian: puntare
- Japanese: 指し示す
- Korean: 위치(방향)를 가리키다
- Norwegian: peke
- Polish: wskazać
- European Portuguese: apontar
- Romanian: a arăta
- Russian: указывать
- Latin American Spanish: señalar enseñar con el dedo
- Swedish: peka
- Thai: ชี้
- Turkish: göstermek parmakla
- Ukrainian: вказувати
- Vietnamese: chỉ tay
British English: point
/pɔɪnt/ NOUN
needle, pin, knife The point of something is its thin, sharp end. Needles and knives have points.
- American English: point /ˈpɔɪnt/
- Arabic: حَدّ
- Brazilian Portuguese: ponta
- Chinese: 尖
- Croatian: vrh
- Czech: špičkakonec
- Danish: spids
- Dutch: punt
- European Spanish: punta
- Finnish: kärki
- French: pointe
- German: Spitze
- Greek: μύτη
- Italian: punta
- Japanese: 先
- Korean: 사물의 뾰족한 끝
- Norwegian: spiss
- Polish: szpic
- European Portuguese: ponta
- Romanian: vârf
- Russian: острие
- Latin American Spanish: punta
- Swedish: spets
- Thai: ปลายแหลม
- Turkish: uç
- Ukrainian: вістря
- Vietnamese: mũi
British English: point
/pɔɪnt/ NOUN
in a game or sport A point is a mark that you win in a game or a sport.
- American English: point /ˈpɔɪnt/
- Arabic: نُقْطَة
- Brazilian Portuguese: ponto
- Chinese: 分
- Croatian: bod
- Czech: bodve hře
- Danish: point
- Dutch: punt
- European Spanish: punto
- Finnish: piste
- French: point sport
- German: Punkt
- Greek: σημείο
- Italian: punto
- Japanese: 得点
- Korean: 점수
- Norwegian: poeng
- Polish: punkt
- European Portuguese: ponto
- Romanian: punct
- Russian: очко
- Latin American Spanish: punto
- Swedish: poäng
- Thai: คะแนน
- Turkish: nokta
- Ukrainian: бал
- Vietnamese: điểm
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