point
Word family (noun) point pointer pointlessness (adjective) pointed pointy pointless (verb) point (adverb) pointlessly pointedly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishSport, Games, Numbers, Geography, Electrical, Measurement, Electricity, Roadspointpoint1 /pɔɪnt/ ●●● S1 W1 noun1 idea [countable]SUBJECT a single fact, idea, or opinion that is part of an argument or discussionThat’s a very interesting point.She made some extremely good points.There are three important points we must bear in mind.This brings me to my next point.point aboutI agree with John’s point about keeping the costs down.► see thesaurus at comment2 → the point 3 purpose [uncountable]PURPOSE the purpose or aim of somethingI suppose we could save one or two of the trees, but what’s the point?point ofWhat’s the point of this meeting anyway?The whole point of this legislation is to protect children.There’s no point in worrying.We’re going to lose anyway, so I can’t see the point of playing.I didn’t see the point in moving to London. 4 place [countable]PLACE a particular place or positionThe accident happened at the point where the A15 joins the M1.No cars are allowed beyond this point.a border crossing pointCairo is a convenient departure point for tours.Dover is a point of entry into Britain.► see thesaurus at place 5 in time/development [countable]TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIME an exact moment, time, or stage in the development of somethingI had reached a point in my career where I needed to decide which way to go.She had got to the point where she felt that she could not take any more.Their win over old rivals Manchester United was the high point (=best part) in their season.Sales reached a low point in 1996.We will take last week’s riots as a starting point for our discussion.At one point, I thought he was going to burst into tears.Maybe at this point we should move onto some of the practical experiments.At that point, I was still living at home and had no job.You will probably sell the car at some point in the future.It is impossible to give a definite answer at this point in time.Some children are bullied to the point of suicide (=until they reach this stage).► see thesaurus at time 6 quality/feature [countable usually plural]CHARACTER OF somethingCHARACTER/PERSONALITY a particular quality or feature that something or someone hassomebody’s/something’s good/bad pointsSometimes she had to remind herself of his good points.point ofThey would spend hours discussing the finer points (=small details about qualities and features) of various cars.The low price is one of its main selling points (=features that will help to sell it).Driving was not one of Baxter’s strong points.One of the club’s plus points is that it is central.There were some weak points in his argument.7 games/sport [countable]DSDG one of the marks or numbers that shows your score in a game or sportHe is three points behind the leader.Leeds United are now six points clear at the top of the table.She had to win this point.You get three points for a win and one point for a draw.You lose a point if you do not complete the puzzle on time.The fight went the full fifteen rounds, and in the end the American won on points. 8
sharp end [countable]END/POINT a sharp end of somethingthe sharp point of a spear 9 → boiling point/freezing point/melting point etc10 → the point of no return11 → point of departure12 → be on the point of (doing) something13 → up to a point14 → to the point15 → make a point of doing something16 → when/if it comes to the point 17 → in point of fact18 → not to put too fine a point on it19 numbers [countable]HMN a sign (.) used to separate a whole number from any decimals that follow it20 measure on a scale [countable]MEASURE a mark or measure on a scaleThe stock market has fallen by over 200 points in the last week.21 small spot [countable]SMALL a very small spot of light or colourThe stars shone like points of light in the sky.22 direction [countable]DIRECTION one of the marks on a compass that shows directionSoldiers were advancing on us from all points of the compass. 23 piece of land [countable]SG a long thin piece of land that stretches out into the seaWe sailed round the point into a small, sheltered bay. 24 electricity [countable] British EnglishTEE a piece of plastic with holes in it which is attached to a wall and to which electrical equipment can be connecteda telephone pointan electrical point25 → points → pointeCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: a single fact, idea, or opinion that is part of an argument or discussionadjectivesa good pointI think that’s a very good point.an interesting pointHe has made an interesting point.an important pointThat’s an important point to bear in mind.a serious pointHe’s making a joke but there is a serious point there as well.a valid pointShe raised a number of valid points.a general pointI’d like to make one further general point.a similar pointKevin Phillips made a similar point in his 1993 book, ‘Boiling Point’.the main pointFinally, I will summarise the main points of this chapter.one final/last pointThere is one final point I would like to make.verbsmake a pointHe makes the point that predicting behaviour is not easy.put/get your point across (=make people understand it)I think we got our point across.raise a point (=mention it)I was going to raise that point.illustrate/demonstrate a pointA simple example will illustrate the point.prove your/a point (=prove that what you say is right)He was determined to prove his point.understand a pointI’m sorry, I don’t understand your point.see/take/get somebody’s point (=understand or agree with it)OK, I take your point. But it’s not that easy.have a point (=have made a good point)Maybe she has a point.labour the point British English, belabor the point American English (=keep saying something)I don’t wish to labour the point, but why didn’t you just tell me?clarify a point (=make it clearer)Could you clarify a couple of points for me?phrasespoint taken (=used to say to someone that you accept what they say)All right, point taken – I should have asked you first.the finer points of something (=the small details)I’m afraid I don’t understand the finer points of the game. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: phrasesthe point is (that) ...The point is that going by bus would be a lot cheaper.that’s the (whole) pointThat’s the point. She didn’t tell us what was going on.that's not the pointWe'd earn a lot of money, but that's not the point.be beside the point (=be not the most important thing to consider)He's the best person for the job so his age is beside the point.more to the point (=what is more important)When did she leave, and, more to the point, why?verbsget/come (straight) to the point (=talk about the most important thing immediately)I haven't got much time so let's get straight to the point.get the point (=understand it)He didn’t get the point at first.miss the point (=not understand it)I don't know why but Mel always seems to miss the point. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 5: an exact moment, time, or stage in the development of somethingverbsreach a pointSome couples reach a point where divorce is the only solution.get to a pointYou get to the point where ordinary things like climbing stairs are difficult.mark a high/low/turning etc point (=be or happen at a particular time in the development of something)The day of the accident marked a turning point in Kenny’s life.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + pointa high pointWinning the World Championship was the high point of my career.a low pointShe helped me when I was at a low point in my life.a starting pointThe following recipes are a good starting point for making your own bread.a turning point (=the time when an important change starts, especially an improvement)A turning point in the history of the republic came in 1358.crisis point (=the point at which a situation becomes extremely serious)The tensions within the country have reached crisis point.breaking point (=a time when someone or something can no longer deal with something)Our resources are stretched to breaking point.bursting point (=a time when something is completely full)The hospital was full to bursting point.saturation point (=a time when no more can be added to something)Is the market for computer games reaching saturation point?phrasesat one point (=at a time in the past)At one point I was thinking of studying physics.at some pointOver half the population suffers from back pain at some point in their lives.at this/that pointI’m not prepared at this point to make any decision.at this/that point in time formal (=used especially in official speeches, announcements etc)It would be wrong to comment at this point in time.to the point of something (=until a stage is reached or is near)British industry was driven to the point of collapse.there comes a point when/where ...There comes a point where you have to accept defeat. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 6: a particular quality or feature that something or someone hasadjectivesgood pointsEvery system has its good points and its drawbacks.bad pointsWhat would you say are Natalie’s bad points?somebody’s strong point (=something that they are good at)Mathematics was never my strong point.somebody’s weak point (=something that they are not good at)Be honest about assessing your weak points.a plus point British English (=an advantage or good feature)The airline’s outstanding safety record is a major plus point.a positive pointUnderfloor heating has a lot of positive points.a negative pointA few negative points should be mentioned.a selling point (=a quality or feature that makes people want to buy something)The house's main selling point is its beautiful garden.the finer points of something (=small details about the qualities or features of something)I'm afraid I'm not interested in the finer points of cars.COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 7: one of the marks or numbers that shows your score in a game or sportverbsscore a point (=especially in games such as football, baseball, cricket etc)The Kiwis scored 206 points in their three matches.win a point (=especially in games such as tennis, where the ball goes back and forth between competitors)I didn't win a single point in my first few games.get a point informal (=score a point)Our aim is to get as many points as possible.lose a pointIf he’s got the answer wrong, he loses 250 points.give/award somebody a pointI was awarded 17 points out of 20.phraseswin/lose by 5/10 etc pointsWe only lost by two points.win/lose on points (=win or lose a fight because of the judges’ decision)He was knocked down twice, before losing on points.be level on points British English:The teams finished level on points.Examples from the Corpuspoint• Steve Jones is 15 points ahead.• Reeves scored 23 points for Arizona.• In darts, you get 50 points for hitting the bullseye.• Damon Hill leads the Formula 1 Championship, with 58 points from 6 races.• Soon they came to a point where the road divided.• Line A crosses line B at point C.• His plan has both good and bad points.• Each point in the ratio meant 100,000 tons of capital ships, or the equivalent of about three battleships.• Almost everything has been agreed. There is just one final point that needs to be settled.• The market place was the growing point of most towns, and they have taken their shape around it.• Make a list of the main points in the article.• By mixing metals it is possible to make alloys which are tougher and have a lower melting point than the individual metals.• one point nine percent• This survey data is cross-section data taken from a sample of households at a particular point in time.• a pencil point• In other words, an increase in expected inflation of 5 percentage points shifts the Phillips curve upwards by 5 percentage points.• Michael's point about training is an interesting one.• It has small white flowers, and leaves that taper to a sharp point.• They are now 0-6 in games decided by six points or fewer.• Cicely makes six points, grabs four rebounds and finally seems to know what plays are being run.• In his speech, Marks made the point that far more people died from smoking tobacco than from taking drugs.• I can't see the point of travelling all that way and then only staying for one day.• "I'll come straight to the point, " said the doctor. "I think you are suffering from depression."• From this point on, to stop short will be difficult and frustrating.• Exactly what point are you trying to make, Nick?what’s the point• I hate cigarettes anyway, what's the point?• Groups such as N-Joi and Altern 8 use dancers to give their performances a human feel, but what's the point?• I could tell him, but what's the point? He never listens to anyone.• But, quite frankly, what's the point?• I mean, what's the point?• No, what's the point?• There are far too many already, and all these minor ones, what's the point?• So what's the point of all this research?• So what's the point of us moving out?departure point• Travel from your chosen departure point at a time that suits you.• A number of independent coach companies offer a range of departure points and times throughout the London area.• Just check the code for your selected departure point against the panel below to find the departure and return Time Band applicable.• Commercial and cargo flights would be allowed as long as they were inspected at their departure points.• Our reservations staff will be pleased to quote alternative departure times, departure points and routes on request.• You can choose your departure point from our massive range of flights and airports on page 10-13 of the main brochure.reached ... point• Over a series of dives, Skorupka eventually reached a point some 420 metres from base at 30 metres depth.• Few sites that I visited had reached a point where they clearly would survive if these extra start-up funds disappeared.• Sontag is certainly right that in our time human thought has reached a point of excruciating complexity.• They have reached a point in their drama when they need factual information, they want to get it right.• We have reached a point where the way ahead seems to have petered out.• Last year he reached a point when he knew he had to stop.• We have, however, reached a point at which family functions can no longer be taken for granted.• We've reached a point where we don't have enough money to continue all our services.the finer points• The agonized hand-wringing about internationalism and the finer points of world politics were thrust aside.• Though Pilger was a committed left-winger, he was lacking the finer points of the new feminist-influenced Right-On etiquette.• It hasn't learned this behaviour; it was born with it, though it gradually learns the finer points.• His elucidation of the finer points of betting is also excellent.• To begin the evening Laurent Perrier will conduct a champagne tasting, educating us all on the finer points in choosing champagne.• Sometimes they were right, news crews rarely had the time or the inclination to pursue the finer points.• They're just the people to spot the finer points of ornithology, are they?• Looking back, I can not imagine that I understood the finer points of the contract M. Chaillot placed before me.win ... point• Thirteen times, the Cardinal won by 15 points or more.• He won points from some for delivering his speech amid the disruptions.• But the head in question did succeed in winning this point.• It was United's first league win and their points of the new season.• Whitaker will throw enough punches to win on points.• Val Walton won by a point.points of light• The records are even finer grained than that: cold, bump, points of light, waiting.• At the same time one should look for points of light in the darkness.• The count suddenly stiffened, his midnight-black eyes narrowing to glittering points of light, and Maggie knew the game was up.• For most people in the line it was firing at leaves or points of light.• The glow from a thousand points of light seems less reliable than that from the lightbulbs of a well-financed bureaucracy.• On close examination, tiny points of light can be seen bouncing in a random zig-zag motion.• A beautiful silver starfish, with points of light all over its body, sapphire and rose-pink and silver.• The ocean tilted up to meet him, its dark surface studded with points of light that looked like constellations, fallen stars.Buildings, Constructionldoce_737_zpointpoint2 ●●● S2 W2 verb1 show something with your finger [intransitive, transitive]POINT AT to show something to someone by holding up one of your fingers or a thin object towards it‘Look!’ she said and pointed.point atI could see him pointing at me and telling the other guests what I had said.point to/towardsShe was pointing to a small boat that was approaching the shore.point withThe driver pointed with his whip.She pointed in the direction of the car park.He stood up and pointed his finger at me.► see thesaurus at lead2 aim something [transitive always + adverb/preposition]POINT AT to hold something so that it is aimed towards a person or thingpoint something at somebody/somethingHe stood up and pointed his gun at the prisoner.She produced a camera and pointed it at me.3 face in one direction [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]SHOOT to face or be aimed in a particular directionThe arrow always points north.There were flashlights all around us, pointing in all directions.point atThere were TV cameras pointing at us.point to/towardsThe hands of the clock pointed to a quarter past one.We found footprints pointing towards the back door.4 show somebody where to go [transitive always + adverb/preposition]POINT AT to show someone which direction they should go inShe pointed me towards an armchair.Could you point me in the direction of the bathroom, please?5 suggest what somebody should do [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to suggest what someone should doMy teachers were all pointing me towards university.A financial adviser should be able to point you in the right direction.6 suggest that something is true [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to suggest that something is trueEverything seemed to point in one direction.point to/towardsAll the evidence pointed towards Blake as the murderer.Everything points to her having died from a drugs overdose.7 walls/buildings [transitive] British EnglishTBB to put new cement between the bricks of a wall8 → point your toes9 → point the/a finger at somebody10 → point the way → point something ↔ out → point to something → point something ↔ up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpuspoint• Children are taught that it's rude to point.• "Look, '' she said, pointing at a vase in a shop window.• The comment was pointed at du Cann.• The teacher pointed at Marcus and told him to come to the front of the class.• Babies learn to point before they learn to talk.• A handmade sign for the party pointed down a dirt road.• Could you point me in the right direction?• Then the rod-man screamed, arm pointing straight ahead at the surf.• They were crowded together in a corner, their tails pointing the same way.• It will be time to go when the big hand points to 12 and the little hand points to 8.• "That's Margo's bouquet, on the table.'' Mother pointed to a massive bunch of spring flowers.• Winston points to airline deregulation as case in point.• He rested the handle on the hair between her legs, the blade pointing up towards her abdomen.• So when he followed up by pointing us towards the touchline, I got the shock of my life.• Don't point your finger at me.point at• She pointed at my plate and asked why I wasn't eating.point to/towards• Later I discovered she was only pointing to an overflow culvert.• There were no intellectual points to be scored, no intense undergraduate conversations, no pretensions.• Peabody pointed to Grafton, which was chosen by Marvin Windows as the site for a factory.• Larry slept on a cot in grubby clothes but made it a point to shave every day.• She made it a point to tell people as little about herself as possible.• It teaches wariness and points to the danger of narcissism.• It doesn't mean that the problem is solved, but there's a starting point to work from.point ... in the direction of• Upright at opposite ends of a turbulent field, they point woodenly in the direction of hope.• I have time to discuss only one lexical myth: this is the signpost which points us in the direction of precision.• He asked the first policeman he saw the way to London University and was pointed in the direction of the Strand.• Keep your right elbow pointing in the direction of your right hip as shown.point ... in the right direction• If you are going somewhere then you have to know where you are going in order to point in the right direction.• It also assumes that existing people are already capable and only need pointing in the right direction.• Yet it's a remarkably basic skill to master once you've been pointed in the right direction.point to/towards• Later I discovered she was only pointing to an overflow culvert.• There were no intellectual points to be scored, no intense undergraduate conversations, no pretensions.• Peabody pointed to Grafton, which was chosen by Marvin Windows as the site for a factory.• Larry slept on a cot in grubby clothes but made it a point to shave every day.• She made it a point to tell people as little about herself as possible.• It teaches wariness and points to the danger of narcissism.• It doesn't mean that the problem is solved, but there's a starting point to work from.From Longman Business Dictionarypointpoint1 /pɔɪnt/ noun [countable]1a single idea, opinion, or fact, especially one that is part of a plan, argument, or discussionThat’s a very interesting point.I agree with your point about the importance of safety.He made the point that economic growth would create the wealth necessary to protect the environment.2a level on a scaleGas prices have reached their highest point so far this year.The president’s approval rating has hit its lowest point.3the point the main idea in something that is said or done which gives meaning to all of itThe point is that staff are not allowed to smoke in the building.Have I completely missed the point (=failed to understand the main meaning of something)?4one of a series of parts into which a meeting, plan etc is dividedWhat’s the first point on the agenda?The corporation announced a five-point plan for overhauling its businesses.5FINANCE a unit of measure used in INDEXES (=series of figures giving the general level of financial markets, economic activity etc)The Financial Times 30 Share Index closed up 11 points at 1659.5.6a place or positionYour luggage will be searched at thepoint of departure.Visas cannot be issued at the entry points along the border.7an exact moment, time, or stage in the development or progress of somethingIt is too early to tell whether last month’s increase marks a turning point (=a time when a situation changes) for the company.The economy seems to be moving to the point of no return (=the point where it becomes so bad it cannot recover).8a unit used to measure how good someone or something is or how suitable they are for somethingThe details you give are assessed according to a points system.9a particular quality or feature that something or someone hasFinance has never been his strong point.Every system has its good points and its drawbacks.10spoken a sign (.) used to separate a whole number from any DECIMALs that follow it → see also bullet pointpointpoint2 verb1point the finger (at somebody) to blame someone for somethingTo minimise his sentence, he pointed the finger at people he had dealt with.2point the way to show how something could change or develop successfullyThe article summarises the current law and points the way forward. → point something ↔ out → point to something → point to/towards something → point something ↔ up→ See Verb tableOrigin point1 (1200-1300) Partly from Old French point “small hole or spot, point in time or space”, from Latin punctum, from pungere ( → PUNGENT); partly from Old French pointe “sharp end”, from Vulgar Latin puncta, from Latin pungere