a geometric element that has position but no extension; a point is defined by its coordinates'
the unit of counting in scoring a game or contest; he scored 20 points in the first half; a touchdown counts 6 points'
a promontory extending out into a large body of water; they sailed south around the point'
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
[ Syn: item ]
a style in speech or writing that arrests attention and has a penetrating or convincing quality or effect
an outstanding characteristic; his acting was one of the high points of the movie
[ Syn: spot ]
sharp end; he stuck the point of the knife into a tree; he broke the point of his pencil'
any of 32 horizontal directions indicated on the card of a compass; he checked the point on his compass
[ Syn: compass point ]
a linear unit used to measure the size of type; approximately 1/72 inch
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
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
[ Syn: period , full stop , stop , full point ]
the precise location of something; a spatially limited location; she walked to a point where she could survey the whole street'
a V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer; the point of the arrow was due north
[ Syn: head ]
the dot at the left of a decimal fraction
[ Syn: decimal point , percentage point ]
the property of a shape that tapers to a sharp tip
[ Syn: pointedness ]
a distinguishing or individuating characteristic; he knows my bad points as well as my good points'
the gun muzzles direction; he held me up at the point of a gun
[ Syn: gunpoint ]
a wall socket
[ Syn: power point ]
a contact in the distributor; as the rotor turns its projecting arm contacts them and current flows to the spark plugs
[ Syn: distributor point , breaker point ]
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'
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole; several of the details are similar; a point of information
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?
an instant of time; at that point I had to leave
[ Syn: point in time ]
the object of an activity; what is the point of discussing it?'
a V shape; the cannibals teeth were filed to sharp points
a very small circular shape; a row of points; draw lines between the dots
[ Syn: dot ]
point (n.)
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
be positionable in a specified manner; The gun points with ease'
intend (something) to move towards a certain goal; He aimed his fists towards his opponents face; criticism directed at her superior; direct your anger towards others, not towards yourself
indicate the presence of (game) by standing and pointing with the muzzle; the dog pointed the dead duck'
give a point to; The candles are tapered
repair the joints of bricks; point a chimney
[ Syn: repoint ]
be oriented; The weather vane points North; the dancers toes pointed outward
[ Syn: orient ]
direct into a position for use; point a gun; He charged his weapon at me
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
[ Syn: steer , maneuver , manoeuver , manoeuvre , direct , head , guide , channelize , channelise ]
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
sail close to the wind
[ Syn: luff ]
mark (Hebrew words) with diacritics
mark with diacritics; point the letter'
mark (a psalm text) to indicate the points at which the music changes