point

noun

UK /pɔɪnt/

Word Forms

singular	point
plural	points

1
countable an idea or opinion among a number of others
I disagree with you on a couple of important points.
point by point (=looking at each part separately):
Let’s go over the plan point by point.
Synonyms and related words
Opinions and attitudes
opinion
attitude
view
1. 1a
  singular the thing that you are trying to say
  My point is that we’re spending too much time on details and forgetting the big issues.
  What’s your point?
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of discussions
  contention
  focus
  item
2. 1b
  singular the reason for something
  point of:
  What is the point of your visit?
  see/get the point (=understand the reason):
  I’m sorry – I just don’t see the point of doing this.
  not any/no point:
  I see no point in discussing this any further.
  Synonyms and related words
  Reasons and excuses
  reason
  excuse
  point
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with point
▪ crucial, focal, fundamental, important, key, main
Verbs frequently used with point as the object
▪ illustrate, labour, make, prove, raise
2
countable an aspect or feature
someone’s strong/weak points:
Subtlety is not one of his strong points.
the finer points (=the details):
He spent his spare time coaching youngsters on the finer points of soccer.
it has its points (=it has some good qualities):
I complain about working different hours from everyone else, but it has its points.
Synonyms and related words
Features and qualities
feature
quality
factor
3
countable a particular moment in time
at this/that point:
At that point we all got up and walked out of the room.
at this/that point in time:
At this point in time we can’t afford to hire any more people.
Synonyms and related words
Moments and short periods of time
moment
second
instant
1. 3a
  singular a particular stage in a process
  the freezing/boiling point of water
  reach a point:
  We’re just trying to reach a point where both sides will sit down together and talk.
  to the point of:
  His behaviour was strange to the point of being considered unacceptable by his employers.
  Synonyms and related words
  Individual stages of events and processes
  episode
  gradation
  in/during the heat of something
4
countable a particular place
We’ll meet at a point halfway between here and your hotel.
a point where three different countries meet
Synonyms and related words
General words for location and place
place
location
setting
1. 4a
  a position on a drawing or map
  Lines C and D intersect at point E.
  Synonyms and related words
  Maps, using maps and map making
  atlas
  A to Z
  boundary
5
countable a unit for counting the score in a game or sport
Our team is two points behind.
They won on points (=by getting the most points).
Synonyms and related words
Scoring points and goals
a clean sheet
aggregate
all
1. 5a
  a unit of measurement
  Interest rates fell by 2 percentage points.
  Synonyms and related words
  Describing or relating to units of measurement
  absolute
  calibration
  exa-
6
countable a very small area of light or colour
His eyes narrowed to glittering points of light.
Synonyms and related words
Areas and amounts of colour or shine
a burst of colour
band
blaze
7
countable the sharp end of something
the point of the knife/sword/scissors
Synonyms and related words
Parts of objects that stick out from the surface
arm
flap
limb
8
countable a piece of land that stretches out into an area of water
Synonyms and related words
Areas of land around rivers, lakes and seas
bank
basin
bay
9
countable mathsthe word for a decimal point, used when saying a number, for example 6.3 is said as ‘six point three’
Synonyms and related words
Punctuation
ampersand
apostrophe
bad break
10
countable Britisha power point
Synonyms and related words
Equipment for connecting pieces of electrical equipment
adapter
alligator clip
cable
11
countable one of the 32 marks on a compass that show direction
Synonyms and related words
The compass and points of the compass
bearing
cardinal point
compass
12
to the point that
used to to talk about something that changes slowly, until it finally turns into something else
At first I was nervous, but as time went on I got more and more comfortable, to the point that now I actually enjoy it.
His behavior has gotten worse and worse, to the point that now we’re thinking about pulling him out of regular school to homeschool him.
Submitted by:
Zami Karzai from India on 15/09/2018
Open Dictionary - September2018

phrases

at some point

come/get to the point

I see/take your point

make a point of doing something

make/prove your/a point

miss the point

on point

on the point of doing something

the point of no return

to the point

up to a point

you’ve got a point

point

noun

US /pɔɪnt/

Word Forms

singular	point
plural	points

1
countable an idea or opinion among a number of others
I disagree with you on a couple of important points.
point by point (=looking at each part separately):
Let’s go over the plan point by point.
Synonyms and related words
Opinions and attitudes
opinion
attitude
view
1. 1a
  singular the thing that you are trying to say
  My point is that we’re spending too much time on details and forgetting the big issues.
  What’s your point?
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of discussions
  contention
  focus
  item
2. 1b
  singular the reason for something
  point of:
  What is the point of your visit?
  not any/no point:
  I see no point in discussing this any more.
  get/see the point (=understand the reason):
  I’m sorry – I just don’t get the point.
  Synonyms and related words
  Reasons and excuses
  reason
  excuse
  point
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with point
▪ crucial, focal, fundamental, important, key, main
Verbs frequently used with point as the object
▪ illustrate, labor, make, prove, raise
2
countable an aspect or feature
someone’s strong/weak points:
Subtlety is not one of his strong points.
the finer points (=the details):
He spent his spare time coaching youngsters on the finer points of soccer.
it has its points (=it has some good qualities):
I complain about working different hours from everyone else, but it has its points.
Synonyms and related words
Features and qualities
feature
quality
factor
3
countable a particular moment in time
at this/that point:
At that point we all got up and walked out of the room.
at this/that point in time:
At this point in time we can’t afford to hire any more people.
Synonyms and related words
Moments and short periods of time
moment
second
instant
1. 3a
  singular a particular stage in a process
  the freezing/boiling point of water
  reach a point:
  We’re just trying to reach a point where both sides will sit down together and talk.
  to the point of:
  His behavior was strange to the point of being considered unacceptable by his employers.
  Synonyms and related words
  Individual stages of events and processes
  episode
  gradation
  in/during the heat of something
4
countable a particular place
We’ll meet at a point halfway between here and your hotel.
a point where three different countries meet
Synonyms and related words
General words for location and place
place
location
setting
1. 4a
  a position on a drawing or map
  Lines C and D intersect at point E.
  Synonyms and related words
  Maps, using maps and map making
  atlas
  boundary
  cartography
5
countable a unit for counting the score in a game or sport
Our team is two points behind.
They won on points (=by getting the most points).
Synonyms and related words
Scoring points and goals
aggregate
all
all square
1. 5a
  a unit of measurement
  Interest rates fell by 2 percentage points.
  Synonyms and related words
  Describing or relating to units of measurement
  absolute
  calibration
  exa-
6
countable a very small area of light or color
His eyes narrowed to glittering points of light.
Synonyms and related words
Areas and amounts of color or shine
a burst of color
band
blaze
7
countable the sharp end of something
the point of the knife/sword/scissors
Synonyms and related words
Parts of objects that stick out from the surface
arm
flap
limb
8
countable a long thin piece of land that stretches out into an area of water
Synonyms and related words
Areas of land around rivers, lakes and seas
bank
basin
bay
9
countable mathsthe word for a decimal point, used when saying a number: 6.3 is said as “six point three”
Synonyms and related words
Punctuation
ampersand
apostrophe
bad break
10
countable one of the 32 marks on a compass that show direction
Synonyms and related words
The compass and points of the compass
bearing
cardinal point
compass
11
countable Britishan electrical outlet
Synonyms and related words
Equipment for connecting pieces of electrical equipment
adapter
alligator clip
cable
12
to the point that
used to to talk about something that changes slowly, until it finally turns into something else
At first I was nervous, but as time went on I got more and more comfortable, to the point that now I actually enjoy it.
His behavior has gotten worse and worse, to the point that now we’re thinking about pulling him out of regular school to homeschool him.
Submitted by:
Zami Karzai from India on 15/09/2018
Open Dictionary - September2018

phrases

at some point

come/get to the point

I see/take your point

make a point of doing something

make/prove your/a point

miss the point

on point

on the point of doing something

the point of no return

to the point

up to a point

you’ve got a point

point

verb

UK /pɔɪnt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	point
he/she/it	points
present participle	pointing
past tense	pointed
past participle	pointed

1
intransitive/transitive to show something by holding out your finger or a long thin object
Don’t point. They’ll know we’re looking at them.
He pointed his stick in the direction of the path.
point at:
She pointed at the ice cream that she wanted.
point to:
He pointed to the dog as it ran towards them.
Synonyms and related words
To use a particular gesture to communicate something
acknowledge
bat your eyes/eyelashes
beckon
2
intransitive to show a particular direction or place, usually using a sign or symbol
The arrow pointed left towards the exit door.
Is the little hand pointing to 3 or 4?
Synonyms and related words
To use a particular gesture to communicate something
acknowledge
bat your eyes/eyelashes
beckon
3
transitive to aim an object at someone or something
All you have to do is point the camera and shoot.
point something at/towards someone/something:
He pointed his rifle at the deer and pulled the trigger.
Synonyms and related words
To aim and to throw
throw
direct
aim
4
intransitive/transitive to show someone the direction in which they should go
Could you point me in the direction of the lobby?
Synonyms and related words
To use a particular gesture to communicate something
acknowledge
bat your eyes/eyelashes
beckon
1. 4a
  to show someone what they should do
  The results of the study will point towards areas for further research.
  a great thinker who was pointing the way to the future
  Synonyms and related words
  To tell people what to do
  order
  order around
  tell
5
intransitive/transitive to stretch your toes as if you were trying to make them form a straight line with your leg
Synonyms and related words
To move your limbs and appendages
reach out
reach
kick
6
transitive to repair a wall by putting new cement or mortar between the stones or bricks
Synonyms and related words
To repair something
darn
do up
fix

phrases

point the/a finger (at someone)

phrasal verbs

point out

point to

point up

point

verb

US /pɔɪnt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	point
he/she/it	points
present participle	pointing
past tense	pointed
past participle	pointed

1
intransitive/transitive to show something by holding out your finger or a long thin object
Don’t point. They’ll know we’re looking at them.
He pointed his stick in the direction of the bird.
point at:
She pointed at the ice cream that she wanted.
point to:
He pointed to the dog as it ran toward them.
Synonyms and related words
To use a particular gesture to communicate something
acknowledge
bat your eyes/eyelashes
beckon
2
intransitive to show a particular direction or place, usually using a sign or symbol
The arrow pointed left toward the exit door.
Is the little hand on the clock pointing to 3 or 4?
Synonyms and related words
To use a particular gesture to communicate something
acknowledge
bat your eyes/eyelashes
beckon
3
transitive to aim an object at someone or something
All you have to do is point the camera and shoot.
point something at/toward someone/something:
He pointed his rifle at the deer and pulled the trigger.
Synonyms and related words
To aim and to throw
throw
direct
aim
4
intransitive/transitive to show someone the direction in which they should go
Could you point me in the direction of the lobby?
Synonyms and related words
To use a particular gesture to communicate something
acknowledge
bat your eyes/eyelashes
beckon
1. 4a
  to show someone what they should do
  The results of the study will point toward areas for further research.
  a great thinker who was pointing the way to the future
  Synonyms and related words
  To tell people what to do
  order
  order around
  tell
5
intransitive/transitive to stretch your toes as if you were trying to make them form a straight line with your leg
Synonyms and related words
To move your limbs and appendages
spread
fold your arms/hands
bend
6
transitive to repair a wall by putting new cement or mortar between the stones or bricks
Synonyms and related words
To repair something
darn
do up
fix

phrases

point the/a finger (at someone)

phrasal verbs

point out

point to

point up

point ​‌‌‌

to the point that

point ​‌‌‌

to the point that

point ​‌‌‌

point ​‌‌‌

point

point

point

point