point
59 ENTRIES FOUND:
- point (noun)
- point (verb)
- point–and–click (adjective)
- point–and–shoot (adjective)
- point–blank (adverb)
- pointed (adjective)
- pointing (noun)
- point guard (noun)
- point man (noun)
- point of departure (noun)
- point of honor (noun)
- point of no return (noun)
- point of order (noun)
- point of reference (noun)
- point of view (noun)
- point person (noun)
- point spread (noun)
- Point Pelee (proper noun)
- boiling point (noun)
- breaking point (noun)
- brownie points (noun)
- bullet point (noun)
- case in point (noun)
- decimal point (noun)
- dew point (noun)
- exclamation point (noun)
- extra point (noun)
- finger–pointing (noun)
- flash point (noun)
- focal point (noun)
- freezing point (noun)
- game point (noun)
- grade point average (noun)
- jumping–off point (noun)
- match point (noun)
- melting point (noun)
- power point (noun)
- pressure point (noun)
- price point (noun)
- rallying point (noun)
- reference point (noun)
- selling point (noun)
- set point (noun)
- sticking point (noun)
- talking point (noun)
- three–point line (noun)
- three–point turn (noun)
- turning point (noun)
- vanishing point (noun)
- vantage point (noun)
- Barrow, Point (proper noun)
- a (noun)
- b (noun)
- beside (preposition)
- drive (verb)
- fine (adjective)
- finger (noun)
- home (adverb)
- toe (noun)
plural
points
plural
points
Britannica Dictionary definition of POINT
1
a
[count]
:
an idea that you try to make other people accept or understand
-
She showed us several graphs to illustrate the point she was making.
-
I see your point, but I don't think everyone will agree.
-
There's no use in arguing the point.
-
He made a very good point about the need for change.
-
Let me make one final point.
-
That's the point I've been trying to make.
-
“What's your point?” “Actually, I have two points.”
-
My point is simply that we must do something to help the homeless.
-
That's my point exactly.
-
Maybe there's a better way to get your point across. [=to make people understand what you are saying]
-
He's willing to do almost anything to prove a point. [=to show that he is right about something]
-
If you want to stretch a point [=exaggerate slightly], you could say that he is handsome.
-
“If we leave now, we won't make it back in time.” “That's a good point.”
-
“You have to help them.” “Point taken. [=I understand what you are saying] I'll do what I can.”
-
I don't want to labor/belabor the point [=repeat myself too many times], but I think I should mention again that we are running out of time.
b
[count]
:
a particular detail of an idea or argument
-
There are two critical/crucial/key points that I would like to discuss.
-
There are several weak points in their theory.
c
the point
:
the main or most important idea of something that is said or written
—
see also to the point (below)
-
It took several paragraphs for her to come/get to the point of her argument.
-
If you drive while drunk, you could lose your license, but even more to the point [=more importantly], you could kill someone.
2
:
a reason for doing something
:
purpose
— often + of
— often + in
[singular]
-
Is there a point to/for all of this paperwork?
-
What's the point of having [=why have] a swimming pool if you never use it?
-
I saw no point in continuing the discussion.
-
There's no point in getting upset. [=there is no reason to get upset]
[noncount]
-
There's not much point in making rules if no one's going to follow them.
3
[count]
:
an individual detail or part of something
—
see also rallying point, selling point, sticking point, talking point
-
The only point at issue is when the meeting should be held.
-
Carefully consider each point in the witness's testimony.
-
We debated the fine/finer points of the law.
-
The main point of contention [=the main thing that people are arguing over] is who owns the rights to the land.
4
[count]
:
a particular position, location, or place
-
We met at a point halfway between the two cities.
-
The sun reaches its highest point in the sky at noon.
-
the country's northernmost point
-
distant points in the solar system
-
Change trains here for all points south.
-
The break occurred at a weak point in the bone.
-
She showed us the old capital building and other points of interest.
-
Ellis Island in Manhattan was the point of entry of many American immigrants. [=the place where many immigrants entered the U.S.]
-
The package's point of origin [=the place from where the package was sent] was somewhere in the U.S.
5
[count]
:
a particular time or a particular stage in the development of something
— usually singular
—
see also breaking point, point of no return, turning point
-
At no point (in time) did the defendant ask for a lawyer.
-
By this point in the conversation, I was beginning to lose my patience.
-
I imagine the change will take place at some point in the next year or so.
-
We are approaching the cutoff point of the negotiations.
-
At that time, she enjoyed more success than at any other point in her career.
-
That was the high/low point of her career.
-
At this point in my life, I can't afford to take any risks. = I'm at a point in my life where I can't afford to take any risks.
-
It got to the point where we could no longer ignore his behavior.
-
The game had gone past the point of being fun. [=the game had stopped being fun]
-
We walked all day and were beyond the point of exhaustion.
-
The temperature will rise to 33 degrees Fahrenheit, at which point the ice will begin to melt.
-
It's the natural starting point for a discussion on how to help the homeless.
-
There comes a point in a man's life when he has to think seriously about his future.
-
From that point on [=beginning at that time], I took my studies more seriously.
-
From this point on, any further changes must be approved by your supervisor.
-
Up to that point it had been a successful meeting.
-
The animals were hunted to the point of extinction. [=the animals were hunted until they were extinct]
-
She was at the point of leaving [=she was just about to leave] when he asked her to dance.
-
The police are on the point of solving the case. [=the police have almost solved the case]
6
[count]
a
:
a unit of measurement
—
see also boiling point, dew point, flash point, freezing point, melting point
-
Her blood pressure had risen 16 points since her last checkup.
-
Support for the President dropped three points [=percent] after the incident.
-
She is currently 10 points behind the leading candidate in the polls.
-
Interest rates have risen about two percentage points. [=interest rates rose about two percent]
b
:
a unit that is used to score a game or contest
—
see also extra point, game point, match point, set point
-
We won (the game) by three points.
-
They scored 13 points in the first quarter.
-
She has to win this point in order to win the match.
-
She lost a point for falling off the balance beam.
-
A touchdown is worth six points.
-
He beat his opponent on points. [=by winning more points than his opponent]
7
points
[plural]
informal
:
praise, credit, or approval for doing something good or helpful
-
She washed the car in order to score points [=brownie points] with her father.
-
He's not too smart, but he gets points for effort. [=he should be given credit for the effort he makes]
8
[count]
:
the usually sharp end of something (such as a sword, needle, or pencil)
-
the sharp point [=tip] of the needle
-
She sharpened the pencil down to a point.
-
The alligator's tail tapers to a point.
9
[count]
:
a small dot
-
We see the stars and planets as tiny points of light.
-
a line drawn between two points
10
[count]
:
decimal point
— used especially in speech to say a number that includes a decimal point
-
The number 9.5 is read aloud as “nine point five.”
-
He had a temperature of one hundred and four point two. [=104.2]
-
You're listening to ninety-three point nine [=93.9] FM.
11
[count]
:
any one of the 32 marks on a compass that are used for showing directions
-
The point SSW is between the points S and SW.
-
The cardinal points [=the four main directions] are North, South, East, and West.
12
[count]
:
a piece of land that sticks out into a lake, ocean, etc.
— sometimes used in names
-
The light was coming from the lighthouse on the point.
-
Montauk Point is at the eastern tip of Long Island.
13
14
[count]
:
a unit that measures the size of letters typed on a computer or printed in a published work
-
Your essays should be double-spaced and written in 12-point type.
beside the point
from point A to point B
in point of
formal
:
when considering (a particular quality)
:
with regard to (something)
-
The two painters differ greatly in point of skill. [=the level of their skill is very different]
-
Some people think that all fat is unhealthy to eat when, in point of fact [=in truth, in actuality], some types of fat are good for you.
make a point
◊ If you make a point of doing something or make it a point to do something, you give your attention to it so that you are sure that it happens.
-
She makes a point of treating her employees fairly. = She makes it a point to treat her employees fairly.
not to put too fine a point on it
on point
US
:
relating very well to the subject that is being discussed
:
accurate and appropriate
-
His criticisms about the war were very much on point.
-
Her message is (right) on point.
to the point
:
relating to the thing that is being thought about or discussed
—
see also 1point 1c (above)
-
Please keep your questions brief and to the point.
up to a point
— used to indicate that a statement is partly but not completely true
-
I understand his feelings up to a point. [=to some extent]
-
Competition is good but only up to a certain point.
—
see also case in point, exclamation point, price point
2
point
/ˈpoɪnt/
verb
points;
pointed;
pointing
2
point
/ˈpoɪnt/
verb
points;
pointed;
pointing
Britannica Dictionary definition of POINT
1
:
to show someone where to look by moving your finger or an object held in your hand in a particular direction
— often + at
— often + to
— often + toward
—
see also finger-pointing
[no object]
-
“It's not polite to point,” she said.
-
When I asked the child where his mother was, he pointed in the direction of the house.
-
Pointing with his cane, the old man asked, “Whose dog is that?”
-
It's not polite to point at people.
-
All the kids were pointing and laughing at me.
-
She pointed at the map on the wall.
-
“It's time to leave,” he said pointing at his watch.
-
She pointed to me and asked me to stand up.
-
He pointed toward the door.
[+ object]
-
She pointed her finger at the door.
2
[+ object]
:
to cause the front or tip of (something) to be turned toward someone or something
— often + at
-
Point [=aim] the flashlight into the hole.
-
They pointed their microphones in my direction.
-
She pointed her camera at us.
-
A gun was pointed at his head.
3
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[no object]
:
to have the end or tip extended, aimed, or turned in a specified direction
-
We can leave when the minute hand points to 12.
-
Stand with your arms at your sides and your hands pointing downward.
-
The ship was pointing into the wind.
4
computers
:
to use a mouse or other device to move the pointer on a computer screen to a particular object or place
[+ object]
-
Just point the arrow on the icon and click.
[no object]
-
Just point and click.
5
[+ object]
:
to show (someone) which direction to travel in order to reach a particular place
:
to direct (someone) toward something
-
She pointed him to the school's library.
-
Could you point me in the direction of the train station?
-
If you just point me in the general direction, I think I can find it.
6
[+ object]
:
to give a sharp end to (something)
-
He was pointing [=(more commonly) sharpening] a stick with a knife.
7
[+ object]
:
to repair (a wall, chimney, etc.) by putting new cement or other material between the bricks or stones
-
The wall needs to be pointed.
point an accusing finger at, point a/the finger at
point out
[phrasal verb]
1
point out (someone or something)
or
point (someone or something) out
:
to direct someone's attention to (someone or something) by pointing
-
He pointed his girlfriend out in the crowd.
-
Could you point out the restrooms, please.
-
We asked her to point out (to us) her country on the map.
-
He pointed out the houses of famous people as we drove by.
-
He pointed out the way to the restrooms.
2
point out (something)
or
point (something) out
:
to talk about or mention (something that you think is important)
-
Let me point out [=mention] a few things before we switch topics.
-
He was quick to point our mistake out.
-
He pointed out the benefits/importance of daily exercise.
-
As she likes to point out, she distrusted him from the beginning.
-
I would like to point out that no one is perfect.
-
He pointed out that there are several advantages to owning your own home.
point the way
:
to show the way to go in order to get somewhere
— often used figuratively
-
She pointed the way to the exit.
-
We led good lives, and we must thank our parents for pointing the way.
-
Their work pointed the way for future scientific research.
point to
[phrasal verb]
point to (something)
:
to mention or refer to (something) as a way of supporting an argument or claim
-
The prosecution is unable to point to anything that proves its case.
-
I can point to several past accomplishments that show that I can perform the job well.
point to/toward
[phrasal verb]
point to/toward (someone or something)
:
to show that something is true or probably true
-
All the evidence points to him as the murderer. [=all the evidence indicates that he is the murderer]
-
Her symptoms point to diabetes. [=her symptoms suggest that she has diabetes]
-
Everything points to a bright future for their company.
-
The results from these tests point toward a different conclusion.
point up
[phrasal verb]
point up (something)
or
point (something) up
formal
:
to bring attention to (something)
:
to highlight or emphasize (something)
-
The speaker pointed up the importance of improving public education.
-
The destruction caused by the earthquake points up the need for improvements in construction standards.
point your toes
:
to bend your foot down so that the top of it and the front of your leg form a straight line
-
She forgot to point her toes when she dove into the water.
