point

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /pɔɪnt/
• SAMPA: /pOInt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular point

Plural points

Points on a line

This number is said as "ninety-nine point nine repeating"

1. (countable) A point is a position with no size, or a small dot.

   These two lines meet at this point.

2. (countable) A point is the sharp end of a knife or other sharp thing.

   He used the point of the knife to make a hole in the can.

3. (countable) The point of something is the reason or purpose for it.

   The whole point of coming here was to plant this tree, so let's not go home without doing it.

4. (countable) (informal) A point is a dot between two numbers. To the dot's right, you find a decimal.
   • Synonym: decimal point

   You need a point between the one and the zero.

Verb

Plain form point

Third-person singular points

Past tense pointed

Past participle pointed

Present participle pointing

Uncle Sam pointing his finger at you

1. To point at something is to hold one finger (or a stick, arrow or other long, thin thing) in the direction of the thing so that people will look at the thing.

   He pointed her toward the gate.

Preposition

Preposition point

1. (informal) You use point to introduce decimals in a number that is not an integer.
   • Synonym: decimal

   The price has gone up by two point five percent (2.5%).

Related words

• pointy