point
pronunciation
How to pronounce point in British English:
UK [pɔɪnt]
How to pronounce point in American English:
US [pɔɪnt]
-
- Noun:
- a geometric element that has position but no extension
- the precise location of something; a spatially limited location
- a brief version of the essential meaning of something
- a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process
- an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
- an instant of time
- the object of an activity
- a V shape
- a very small circular shape
- the unit of counting in scoring a game or contest
- a promontory extending out into a large body of water
- a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list
- a style in speech or writing that arrests attention and has a penetrating or convincing quality or effect
- an outstanding characteristic
- sharp end
- any of 32 horizontal directions indicated on the card of a compass
- a linear unit used to measure the size of type; approximately 1/72 inch
- a punctuation mark (.) placed at the end of a declarative sentence to indicate a full stop or after abbreviations
- a V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer
- the property of a shape that tapers to a sharp point
- a distinguishing or individuating characteristic
- the gun muzzle's direction
- a wall socket
- a contact in the distributor; as the rotor turns its projecting arm contacts distributor points and current flows to the spark plugs
-
- Verb:
- indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
- be oriented
- direct into a position for use
- direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
- be a signal for or a symptom of
- sail close to the wind
- mark (Hebrew words) with diacritics
- mark with diacritics
- mark (a psalm text) to indicate the points at which the music changes
- be positionable in a specified manner
- intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
- give a point to
- repair the joints of bricks
Word Origin
- point
- point: [13] ‘Sharp end’ is the etymological notion underlying point. For it comes ultimately from Latin pungere ‘prick, pierce’ (source also of English expunge, poignant and pungent). The neuter form of its past participle, punctum, was used as a noun, meaning ‘small hole made by pricking, dot, particle, etc’ (it is the source of English punctual, punctuation, etc), which passed into Old French as point.Then in the post-classical period a further noun was created, from the feminine past participle puncta, meaning ‘sharp tip’, and this gave Old French pointe. The two have remained separate in French, but in English they have coalesced in point. The Spanish descendant of Latin punctum, punta, has given English punt ‘bet’.=> compunction, expunge, poignant, punctual, punctuation, punt
- point (n.)
- c. 1200, "minute amount, single item in a whole; sharp end of a sword, etc.," a merger of two words, both ultimately from Latin pungere "prick, pierce, puncture" (see pungent). The Latin neuter past participle punctum was used as a noun, meaning "small hole made by pricking," subsequently extended to anything that looked like one, hence, "dot, particle," etc. This yielded Old French point "dot; smallest amount," which was borrowed in Middle English by c. 1300. Meanwhile the Latin fem. past participle of pungere was puncta, which was used in Medieval Latin to mean "sharp tip," and became Old French pointe "point of a weapon, vanguard of an army," which also passed into English, early 14c. The senses have merged in English, but remain distinct in French. Extended senses are from the notion of "minute, single, or separate items in an extended whole." Meaning "small mark, dot" in English is mid-14c. Meaning "distinguishing feature" is recorded from late 15c. Meaning "a unit of score in a game" is first recorded 1746. As a typeface unit (in Britain and U.S., one twelfth of a pica), it went into use in U.S. 1883. As a measure of weight for precious stones (one one-hundredth of a carat) it is recorded from 1931. The point "the matter being discussed" is attested from late 14c.; meaning "sense, purpose, advantage" (usually in the negative, as in what's the point?) is first recorded 1903. Point of honor (1610s) translates French point d'honneur. Point of no return (1941) is originally aviators' term for the point in a flight "before which any engine failure requires an immediate turn around and return to the point of departure, and beyond which such return is no longer practical."
- point (v.)
- late 14c., "indicate with the finger;" c. 1400, "wound by stabbing; make pauses in reading a text; seal or fill openings or joints or between tiles," partly from Old French pointoier "to prick, stab, jab, mark," and also from point (n.). Mid-15c. as "to stitch, mend." From late 15c. as "stitch, mend;" also "furnish (a garment) with tags or laces for fastening;" from late 15c. as "aim (something)." Related: Pointed; pointing. To point up "emphasize" is from 1934; to point out is from 1570s.
Example
- 1. I cannot emphasize that last point enough .
- 2. If you 're not learning , what 's the point ?
- 3. He is far from alone in missing the point entirely .
- 4. The point is that this isn 't trivial , " soft " stuff .
- 5. Critics point to falling readership of books , magazines , and newspapers .