point
n
2 a location, spot, or position
3 any dot or mark used in writing or printing, such as a decimal point or a full stop
4 short for →
vowel point
5 the sharp tapered end of a pin, knife, etc.
6 a pin, needle, or other object having such a point
a a geometric element having no dimensions and whose position in space is located by means of its coordinates
b a location
point of inflection
8 a promontory, usually smaller than a cape
9 a specific condition or degree
10 a moment
at that point he left the room
11 an important or fundamental reason, aim, etc.
the point of this exercise is to train new teachers
12 an essential element or thesis in an argument
you've made your point, I take your point
15 an important or outstanding characteristic, physical attribute, etc.
he has his good points
16 a distinctive characteristic or quality of an animal, esp. one used as a standard in judging livestock
17 often pl any of the extremities, such as the tail, ears, or feet, of a domestic animal
18 (Ballet) often pl the tip of the toes
19 a single unit for measuring or counting, as in the scoring of a game
20 (Australian Rules football) an informal name for →
behind →
11
21 (Printing) a unit of measurement equal to one twelfth of a pica, or approximately 0.01384 inch. There are approximately 72 points to the inch
a a unit of value used to quote security and commodity prices and their fluctuations
b a percentage unit sometimes payable by a borrower as a premium on a loan
a one of the 32 marks on the circumference of a compass card indicating direction
b the angle of 11°15<minute> between two adjacent marks
c a point on the horizon indicated by such a mark
a a fielding position at right angles to the batsman on the off side and relatively near the pitch
b a fielder in this position
25 any of the numbers cast in the first throw in craps with which one neither wins nor loses by throwing them: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10
26 either of the two electrical contacts that make or break the current flow in the distributor of an internal-combustion engine
27 (Brit) often pl a junction of railway tracks in which a pair of rails can be moved so that a train can be directed onto either of two lines, (U.S. and Canadian equivalent)
switch
28 often pl a piece of ribbon, cord, etc., with metal tags at the end: used during the 16th and 17th centuries to fasten clothing
29 (Backgammon) a place or position on the board
a short for →
power point
b an informal name for →
socket →
2
31 an aggressive position adopted in bayonet or sword drill
32 the position of the body of a pointer or setter when it discovers game
33 (Boxing) a mark awarded for a scoring blow, knockdown, etc.
34 any diacritic used in a writing system, esp. in a phonetic transcription, to indicate modifications of vowels or consonants
35 (Jewellery) a unit of weight equal to 0.01 carat
37 (Ice hockey) the position just inside the opponents' blue line
38 ♦
beside the point not pertinent; irrelevant
39 ♦
case in point a specific, appropriate, or relevant instance or example
40 ♦
in point of in the matter of; regarding
a to make (something) one's regular habit
b to do (something) because one thinks it important
42 ♦
not to put too fine a point on it to speak plainly and bluntly
43 ♦
on (or at) the point of at the moment immediately before a specified condition, action, etc., is expected to begin
on the point of leaving the room
44 ♦
score points off to gain an advantage at someone else's expense
a to make a concession or exception not usually made
46 ♦
to the point pertinent; relevant
47 ♦
up to a point not completely
vb
48 usually foll by: at or to to indicate the location or direction of by or as by extending (a finger or other pointed object) towards it
he pointed to the front door, don't point that gun at me
49 intr; usually foll by: at or to to indicate or identify a specific person or thing among several
he pointed at the bottle he wanted, all evidence pointed to Donald as the murderer
50 tr to direct or cause to go or face in a specific direction or towards a place or goal
point me in the right direction
51 tr to sharpen or taper
52 intr (of gun dogs) to indicate the place where game is lying by standing rigidly with the muzzle turned in its direction
53 tr to finish or repair the joints of (brickwork, masonry, etc.) with mortar or cement
54 tr (Music) to mark (a psalm text) with vertical lines to indicate the points at which the music changes during chanting
55 to steer (a sailing vessel) close to the wind or (of a sailing vessel) to sail close to the wind
56 tr (Phonetics) to provide (a letter or letters) with diacritics
57 tr to provide (a Hebrew or similar text) with vowel points,
(See also)
→
point off →
point out →
point up (C13: from Old French: spot, from Latin punctum a point, from pungere to pierce; also influenced by Old French pointe pointed end, from Latin pungere)
dip switch
n a device for dipping car headlights
knife switch
n an electric switch in which a flat metal blade, hinged at one end, is pushed between fixed contacts
mercury switch
n (Electrical engineering) a switch in which a circuit is completed between two terminals by liquid mercury when the switch is tilted
switch
n
1 a mechanical, electrical, or electronic device for opening or closing a circuit or for diverting a current from one part of a circuit to another
2 a swift and usually sudden shift or change
4 a flexible rod or twig, used esp. for punishment
5 the sharp movement or blow of such an instrument
6 a tress of false hair used to give added length or bulk to a woman's own hairstyle
7 the tassel-like tip of the tail of cattle and certain other animals
8 any of various card games in which the suit is changed during play
9 (U.S. and Canadian) a railway siding
10 (U.S. and Canadian) a railway point
11 (Austral)
informal See →
switchboard
vb
12 to shift, change, turn aside, or change the direction of (something)
13 to exchange (places); replace (something by something else)
the battalions switched fronts
14 (Chiefly U.S. and Canadian) to transfer (rolling stock) from one railway track to another
15 tr to cause (an electric current) to start or stop flowing or to change its path by operating a switch
16 to swing or cause to swing, esp. back and forth
17 tr to lash or whip with or as if with a switch, (See also)
→
switch off →
switch on
(C16: perhaps from Middle Dutch swijch branch, twig)
♦
switcher n
♦
switchlike adj
switch-hitter
n (U.S. and Canadian)
1 (Baseball) a batsman who can hit either right- or left-handed
2 Slang a bisexual person
switch off
vb adv
1 to cause (a device) to stop operating by or as if by moving a switch, knob, or lever; turn off
2 Informal to cease to interest or be interested; make or become bored, alienated, etc.
switch on
vb adv
1 to cause (a device) to operate by or as if by moving a switch, knob, or lever; turn on
2 tr
Informal to produce (charm, tears, etc.) suddenly or automatically
3 tr
Informal (now slightly dated) to make up-to-date, esp. regarding outlook, dress, etc.
4 tr
Slang to arouse emotionally or sexually
5 intr
Slang to take or become intoxicated by drugs
6 tr
Slang to introduce (someone) to drugs
switch selling
n a system of selling, now illegal in Britain, whereby potential customers are attracted by a special offer on some goods but the salesman's real aim is to sell other more expensive goods instead
switch yard
n (U.S. and Canadian) an area in a railway system where rolling stock is shunted, as in forming trains
time switch
n an electric switch that can be set to operate an appliance, such as a light or an oven, at a particular time
toggle switch
n
1 an electric switch having a projecting lever that is manipulated in a particular way to open or close a circuit
2 a computer device that is used to turn a feature on or off
trip switch
n an electric switch arranged to interrupt a circuit suddenly and disconnect power from a running machine so that the machine is stopped
tumbler switch
n a switch that is turned over to connect or disconnect an electric current