Definition

1. Noun:

   • A specific location or position: A precise spot in space, often having no dimension.
   • A particular moment in time: A specific instant.
   • A single item, detail, or idea in a discussion or list: A distinct element or matter under consideration.
   • The sharp end of something: The tapered tip of an object like a pencil, knife, or arrow.
   • A unit of measurement, value, or scoring: Used in games, typography, finance, or to indicate degree.
   • The essential meaning or purpose of something: The central idea or reason.
   • A particular quality or characteristic: A distinguishing feature or trait.

2. Verb:

   • To direct or aim something: To cause something to face or be oriented toward a specific direction or target.
   • To indicate or show something: To use a finger, tool, or sign to draw attention to a location, direction, or fact.
   • To give something a sharp tip: To make something tapered or sharp.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The meeting is at a point five miles north of here. (A specific location)
  • At that point, I decided to leave. (A particular moment)
  • She made several interesting points in her argument. (A distinct idea)
  • Be careful with the point of the needle. (The sharp end)
  • Our team is three points ahead. (A unit of scoring)
  • I don't understand the point of this exercise. (The essential purpose)
  • Patience is one of her strong points. (A particular quality)

• Verb:

  • Point the camera towards the mountain. (To direct or aim)
  • He pointed to the map to show us the route. (To indicate)
  • The carpenter pointed the wooden stake. (To give a sharp tip)

Advanced Usage

• "To make a point of doing something": To do something deliberately or as a special effort.

  • She made a point of thanking everyone personally.

• "A case in point": An example that illustrates what is being discussed.

  • The recent accident is a case in point for why we need stricter safety laws.

• "To the point": Relevant and concise, without unnecessary details.

  • His explanation was brief and to the point.

Variants and Related Words

• Pointer (n): A stick used to point at things; a piece of advice; a breed of dog that "points" at game.

  • The lecturer used a laser pointer.

• Pointed (adj): Having a sharp end; (of a remark) direct and critical.

  • She made a pointed comment about his lateness.

• Pointless (adj): Having no purpose or meaning.

  • It's pointless to argue any further.

Synonyms

• Noun: Dot, spot, location, moment, detail, tip, purpose, aspect.
• Verb: Direct, aim, indicate, show, signal.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Point out: To indicate or make someone notice something.

  • She pointed out the mistakes in my report.

• Point to/towards: To suggest or be evidence that something is true or likely.

  • All the evidence points to his innocence.

• Point up: To emphasize or make something more noticeable.

  • The crisis points up the need for better planning.

Related Idioms

• Beside the point: Irrelevant to the subject being discussed.

  • Whether you like him is beside the point; we need his skills.

• On the point of (doing something): About to do something.

  • I was on the point of calling you when you arrived.

• A sore point: A subject that causes annoyance or upset.

  • His failed exam is a sore point, so don't mention it.

Noun

1. a contact in the distributor; as the rotor turns its projecting arm contacts them and current flows to the spark plugs
2. a wall socket
3. the gun muzzle's direction
   • he held me up at the point of a gun
4. a distinguishing or individuating characteristic
   • he knows my bad points as well as my good points
5. the property of a shape that tapers to a sharp tip
6. the dot at the left of a decimal fraction
7. a V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer
   • the point of the arrow was due north
8. a punctuation mark (.) placed at the end of a declarative sentence to indicate a full stop or after abbreviations
   • in England they call a period a stop
9. one percent of the total principal of a loan; it is paid at the time the loan is made and is independent of the interest on the loan
10. a linear unit used to measure the size of type; approximately 1/72 inch
11. any of 32 horizontal directions indicated on the card of a compass
    • he checked the point on his compass
12. sharp end
    • he stuck the point of the knife into a tree
    • he broke the point of his pencil
13. an outstanding characteristic
    • his acting was one of the high points of the movie
14. a style in speech or writing that arrests attention and has a penetrating or convincing quality or effect
15. a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list
    • he noticed an item in the New York Times
    • she had several items on her shopping list
    • the main point on the agenda was taken up first
16. a promontory extending out into a large body of water
    • they sailed south around the point
17. the unit of counting in scoring a game or contest
    • he scored 20 points in the first half
    • a touchdown counts 6 points
18. a very small circular shape
    • a row of points
    • draw lines between the dots
19. a V shape
    • the cannibal's teeth were filed to sharp points
20. the object of an activity
    • what is the point of discussing it?
21. an instant of time
    • at that point I had to leave
22. a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process
    • a remarkable degree of frankness
    • at what stage are the social sciences?
23. an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
    • several of the details are similar
    • a point of information
24. a brief version of the essential meaning of something
    • get to the point
    • he missed the point of the joke
    • life has lost its point
25. the precise location of something; a spatially limited location
    • she walked to a point where she could survey the whole street
26. a geometric element that has position but no extension
    • a point is defined by its coordinates

Verb

1. repair the joints of bricks
   • point a chimney
2. give a point to
   • The candles are tapered
3. indicate the presence of (game) by standing and pointing with the muzzle
   • the dog pointed the dead duck
4. intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
   • He aimed his fists towards his opponent's face
   • criticism directed at her superior
   • direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself
5. be positionable in a specified manner
   • The gun points with ease
6. mark (a psalm text) to indicate the points at which the music changes
7. mark with diacritics
   • point the letter
8. mark (Hebrew words) with diacritics
9. sail close to the wind
10. be a signal for or a symptom of
    • These symptoms indicate a serious illness
    • Her behavior points to a severe neurosis
    • The economic indicators signal that the euro is undervalued
11. direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
12. direct into a position for use
    • point a gun
    • He charged his weapon at me
13. be oriented
    • The weather vane points North
    • the dancers toes pointed outward
14. indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
    • I showed the customer the glove section
    • He pointed to the empty parking space
    • he indicated his opponents