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Definition point

Etymology

From Middle English point, from Old French point m (�dot; minute amount�), from Latin punctum m (�a hole punched in; a point, puncture�), substantive use of punctus m, perfect passive participle of pung? (�I prick, punch�); alternatively, from Old French pointe f (�sharp tip�), from Latin puncta f (past participle). Displaced native Middle English ord (�point�), from Old English ord (�point�). Doublet of punto.

Noun

point (plural points)

A discrete division of something.
1. An individual element in a larger whole; a particular detail, thought, or quality. [from 13th c.]
2. A particular moment in an event or occurrence; a juncture. [from 13th c.]
3. (archaic) Condition, state. [from 13th c.]
4. A topic of discussion or debate; a proposition. [from 14th c.]
5. A focus of conversation or consideration; the main idea.
6. A purpose or objective, which makes something meaningful. [from 14th c.]
7. (obsolete) The smallest quantity of something; a jot, a whit. [14th-17th c.]
8. (obsolete) A tiny amount of time; a moment. [14th-17th c.]
9. A specific location or place, seen as a spatial position. [from 14th c.]
10. (mathematics, sciences) A zero-dimensional mathematical object representing a location in one or more dimensions; something considered to have position but no magnitude or direction. [from 14th c.]
11. A full stop or other terminal punctuation mark. [from 14th c.]
12. (music) A dot or mark used to designate certain tones or time. In ancient music, it distinguished or characterized certain tones or styles (points of perfection, of augmentation, etc.). In modern music, it is placed on the right of a note to raise its value, or prolong its time, by one half.
13. (by extension) A note; a tune.
14. A distinguishing quality or characteristic. [from 15th c.]
15. Something tiny, as a pinprick; a very small mark. [from 15th c.]
16. (now only in phrases) A tenth; formerly also a twelfth. [from 17th c.]
17. Each of the marks or strokes written above letters, especially in Semitic languages, to indicate vowels, stress etc. [from 17th c.]
18. (sports, video games, board games) A unit of scoring in a game or competition. [from 18th c.]
19. (mathematics) A decimal point (now especially when reading decimal fractions aloud). [from 18th c.]
20. (economics) A unit used to express differences in prices of stocks and shares. [from 19th c.]
21. (typography) a unit of measure equal to 1/12 of a pica, or approximately 1/72 of an inch (exactly 1/72 of an inch in the digital era). [from 19th c.]
22. (Britain) An electric power socket. [from 20th c.]
23. (navigation, nautical) A unit of bearing equal to one thirty-second of a circle, i.e. 11.25�.
24. (Britain) A unit of measure for rain, equal to 0.254 mm or 0.01 of an inch.
A sharp extremity.
1. The sharp tip of an object. [from 14th c.]
2. Any projecting extremity of an object. [from 14th c.]
3. An object which has a sharp or tapering tip. [from 14th c.]
4. (backgammon) Each of the twelve triangular positions in either table of a backgammon board, on which the stones are played. [from 15th c.]
5. A peninsula or promontory. [from 15th c.]
6. The position at the front or vanguard of an advancing force. [from 16th c.]
7. Each of the main directions on a compass, usually considered to be 32 in number; a direction. [from 16th c.]
8. (nautical) The difference between two points of the compass.
9. Pointedness of speech or writing; a penetrating or decisive quality of expression. [from 17th c.]
10. (rail transport, Britain, in the plural) A railroad switch. [from 19th c.]
11. (usually in the plural) An area of contrasting colour on an animal, especially a dog; a marking. [from 19th c.]
12. A tine or snag of an antler.
13. (fencing) A movement executed with the sabre or foil.
(heraldry) One of the several different parts of the escutcheon.
(nautical) A short piece of cordage used in reefing sails.
(historical) A string or lace used to tie together certain garments.
Lace worked by the needle.
(US, slang, dated) An item of private information; a hint; a tip; a pointer.
The attitude assumed by a pointer dog when he finds game.
(falconry) The perpendicular rising of a hawk over the place where its prey has gone into cover.
The act of pointing, as of the foot downward in certain dance positions.
The gesture of extending the index finger in a direction in order to indicate something.
(medicine, obsolete) A vaccine point.
In various sports, a position of a certain player, or, by extension, the player occupying that position.
1. (cricket) A fielding position square of the wicket on the off side, between gully and cover. [from 19th c.]
2. (lacrosse, ice hockey) The position of the player of each side who stands a short distance in front of the goalkeeper.
3. (baseball) The position of the pitcher and catcher.
4. (hunting) A spot to which a straight run is made; hence, a straight run from point to point; a cross-country run.

Verb

point (third-person singular simple present points, present participle pointing, simple past and past participle pointed)

(intransitive) To extend the index finger in the direction of something in order to show where it is or to draw attention to it.
(intransitive) To draw attention to something or indicate a direction.
(intransitive) To face in a particular direction.
(transitive) To direct toward an object; to aim.
To give a point to; to sharpen; to cut, forge, grind, or file to an acute end.
(intransitive) To indicate a probability of something.
(transitive, intransitive, masonry) To repair mortar.
(transitive, masonry) To fill up and finish the joints of (a wall), by introducing additional cement or mortar, and bringing it to a smooth surface.
(stone-cutting) To cut, as a surface, with a pointed tool.
(transitive) To direct or encourage (someone) in a particular direction.
(transitive, mathematics) To separate an integer from a decimal with a decimal point.
(transitive) To mark with diacritics.
(dated) To supply with punctuation marks; to punctuate.
(transitive, computing) To direct the central processing unit to seek information at a certain location in memory.
(transitive, Internet) To direct requests sent to a domain name to the IP address corresponding to that domain name.
(intransitive, nautical) To sail close to the wind.
(intransitive, hunting) To indicate the presence of game by a fixed and steady look, as certain hunting dogs do.
(medicine, of an abscess) To approximate to the surface; to head.
(obsolete) To appoint.
(dated) To give point to (something said or done); to give particular prominence or force to.