1point 
/ˈpoɪnt/ noun
plural points /ˈpoɪnt/ noun 1 a [count] : an idea that you try to make other people accept or understand
▪ She showed us several graphs to illustrate the point she was making. ▪ I see your point, but I don't think everyone will agree. ▪ There's no use in arguing the point. ▪ He made a very good point about the need for change. ▪ Let me make one final point. ▪ That's the point I've been trying to make. ▪ “What's your point?” “Actually, I have two points.” ▪ My point is simply that we must do something to help the homeless. ▪ That's my point exactly. ▪ Maybe there's a better way to get your point across. [=to make people understand what you are saying] ▪ He's willing to do almost anything to prove a point. [=to show that he is right about something] ▪ If you want to stretch a point [=exaggerate slightly], you could say that he is handsome. ▪ “If we leave now, we won't make it back in time.” “That's a good point.” ▪ “You have to help them.” “Point taken. [=I understand what you are saying] I'll do what I can.” ▪ I don't want to labor/belabor the point [=repeat myself too many times], but I think I should mention again that we are running out of time.
b [count] : a particular detail of an idea or argument
▪ There are two critical/crucial/key points that I would like to discuss. ▪ There are several weak points in their theory.
c the point : the main or most important idea of something that is said or written
▪ It took several paragraphs for her to come/get to the point of her argument. ▪ If you drive while drunk, you could lose your license, but even more to the point [=more importantly], you could kill someone. — see also to the point (below) 2 : a reason for doing something : purpose [singular] ▪ Is there a point to/for all of this paperwork? — often + of ▪ What's the point of having [=why have] a swimming pool if you never use it? — often + in ▪ I saw no point in continuing the discussion. ▪ There's no point in getting upset. [=there is no reason to get upset] [noncount] ▪ There's not much point in making rules if no one's going to follow them. 3 [count] : an individual detail or part of something
▪ The only point at issue is when the meeting should be held. ▪ Carefully consider each point in the witness's testimony. ▪ We debated the fine/finer points of the law. ▪ The main point of contention [=the main thing that people are arguing over] is who owns the rights to the land. — see also rallying point, selling point, sticking point, talking point 4 [count] : a particular position, location, or place
▪ We met at a point halfway between the two cities. ▪ The sun reaches its highest point in the sky at noon. ▪ the country's northernmost point ▪ distant points in the solar system ▪ Change trains here for all points south. ▪ The break occurred at a weak point in the bone. ▪ She showed us the old capital building and other points of interest. ▪ Ellis Island in Manhattan was the point of entry of many American immigrants. [=the place where many immigrants entered the U.S.] ▪ The package's point of origin [=the place from where the package was sent] was somewhere in the U.S. 5 [count] : a particular time or a particular stage in the development of something — usually singular ▪ At no point (in time) did the defendant ask for a lawyer. ▪ By this point in the conversation, I was beginning to lose my patience. ▪ I imagine the change will take place at some point in the next year or so. ▪ We are approaching the cutoff point of the negotiations. ▪ At that time, she enjoyed more success than at any other point in her career. ▪ That was the high/low point of her career. ▪ At this point in my life, I can't afford to take any risks. = I'm at a point in my life where I can't afford to take any risks. ▪ It got to the point where we could no longer ignore his behavior. ▪ The game had gone past the point of being fun. [=the game had stopped being fun] ▪ We walked all day and were beyond the point of exhaustion. ▪ The temperature will rise to 33 degrees Fahrenheit, at which point the ice will begin to melt. ▪ It's the natural starting point for a discussion on how to help the homeless. ▪ There comes a point in a man's life when he has to think seriously about his future. ▪ From that point on [=beginning at that time], I took my studies more seriously. ▪ From this point on, any further changes must be approved by your supervisor. ▪ Up to that point it had been a successful meeting. ▪ The animals were hunted to the point of extinction. [=the animals were hunted until they were extinct] ▪ She was at the point of leaving [=she was just about to leave] when he asked her to dance. ▪ The police are on the point of solving the case. [=the police have almost solved the case] — see also breaking point, point of no return, turning point 6 [count] a : a unit of measurement
▪ Her blood pressure had risen 16 points since her last checkup. ▪ Support for the President dropped three points [=percent] after the incident. ▪ She is currently 10 points behind the leading candidate in the polls. ▪ Interest rates have risen about two percentage points. [=interest rates rose about two percent] — see also boiling point, dew point, flash point, freezing point, melting point
b : a unit that is used to score a game or contest
▪ We won (the game) by three points. ▪ They scored 13 points in the first quarter. ▪ She has to win this point in order to win the match. ▪ She lost a point for falling off the balance beam. ▪ A touchdown is worth six points. ▪ He beat his opponent on points. [=by winning more points than his opponent] — see also extra point, game point, match point, set point 7 points [plural] informal : praise, credit, or approval for doing something good or helpful
▪ She washed the car in order to score points [=brownie points] with her father. ▪ He's not too smart, but he gets points for effort. [=he should be given credit for the effort he makes] 8 [count] : the usually sharp end of something (such as a sword, needle, or pencil)
▪ the sharp point [=tip] of the needle ▪ She sharpened the pencil down to a point. ▪ The alligator's tail tapers to a point. 9 [count] : a small dot
▪ We see the stars and planets as tiny points of light. ▪ a line drawn between two points 10 [count] : decimal point — used especially in speech to say a number that includes a decimal point ▪ The number 9.5 is read aloud as “nine point five.” ▪ He had a temperature of one hundred and four point two. [=104.2] ▪ You're listening to ninety-three point nine [=93.9] FM. 11 [count] : any one of the 32 marks on a compass that are used for showing directions
▪ The point SSW is between the points S and SW. ▪ The cardinal points [=the four main directions] are North, South, East, and West. 12 [count] : a piece of land that sticks out into a lake, ocean, etc.
▪ The light was coming from the lighthouse on the point. — sometimes used in names ▪ Montauk Point is at the eastern tip of Long Island. 13 [count] Brit : outlet 4 14 [count] : a unit that measures the size of letters typed on a computer or printed in a published work
▪ Your essays should be double-spaced and written in 12-point type.
▪ She showed us several graphs to illustrate the point she was making. ▪ I see your point, but I don't think everyone will agree. ▪ There's no use in arguing the point. ▪ He made a very good point about the need for change. ▪ Let me make one final point. ▪ That's the point I've been trying to make. ▪ “What's your point?” “Actually, I have two points.” ▪ My point is simply that we must do something to help the homeless. ▪ That's my point exactly. ▪ Maybe there's a better way to get your point across. [=to make people understand what you are saying] ▪ He's willing to do almost anything to prove a point. [=to show that he is right about something] ▪ If you want to stretch a point [=exaggerate slightly], you could say that he is handsome. ▪ “If we leave now, we won't make it back in time.” “That's a good point.” ▪ “You have to help them.” “Point taken. [=I understand what you are saying] I'll do what I can.” ▪ I don't want to labor/belabor the point [=repeat myself too many times], but I think I should mention again that we are running out of time.
b [count] : a particular detail of an idea or argument
▪ There are two critical/crucial/key points that I would like to discuss. ▪ There are several weak points in their theory.
c the point : the main or most important idea of something that is said or written
▪ It took several paragraphs for her to come/get to the point of her argument. ▪ If you drive while drunk, you could lose your license, but even more to the point [=more importantly], you could kill someone. — see also to the point (below)
▪ The only point at issue is when the meeting should be held. ▪ Carefully consider each point in the witness's testimony. ▪ We debated the fine/finer points of the law. ▪ The main point of contention [=the main thing that people are arguing over] is who owns the rights to the land. — see also rallying point, selling point, sticking point, talking point
▪ We met at a point halfway between the two cities. ▪ The sun reaches its highest point in the sky at noon. ▪ the country's northernmost point ▪ distant points in the solar system ▪ Change trains here for all points south. ▪ The break occurred at a weak point in the bone. ▪ She showed us the old capital building and other points of interest. ▪ Ellis Island in Manhattan was the point of entry of many American immigrants. [=the place where many immigrants entered the U.S.] ▪ The package's point of origin [=the place from where the package was sent] was somewhere in the U.S.
▪ Her blood pressure had risen 16 points since her last checkup. ▪ Support for the President dropped three points [=percent] after the incident. ▪ She is currently 10 points behind the leading candidate in the polls. ▪ Interest rates have risen about two percentage points. [=interest rates rose about two percent] — see also boiling point, dew point, flash point, freezing point, melting point
b : a unit that is used to score a game or contest
▪ We won (the game) by three points. ▪ They scored 13 points in the first quarter. ▪ She has to win this point in order to win the match. ▪ She lost a point for falling off the balance beam. ▪ A touchdown is worth six points. ▪ He beat his opponent on points. [=by winning more points than his opponent] — see also extra point, game point, match point, set point
▪ She washed the car in order to score points [=brownie points] with her father. ▪ He's not too smart, but he gets points for effort. [=he should be given credit for the effort he makes]
▪ the sharp point [=tip] of the needle ▪ She sharpened the pencil down to a point. ▪ The alligator's tail tapers to a point.
▪ We see the stars and planets as tiny points of light. ▪ a line drawn between two points
▪ The point SSW is between the points S and SW. ▪ The cardinal points [=the four main directions] are North, South, East, and West.
▪ The light was coming from the lighthouse on the point. — sometimes used in names ▪ Montauk Point is at the eastern tip of Long Island.
▪ Your essays should be double-spaced and written in 12-point type.
beside the point — see beside
from point A to point B — see 1a
in point of
formal : when considering (a particular quality) : with regard to (something)
▪ The two painters differ greatly in point of skill. [=the level of their skill is very different] ▪ Some people think that all fat is unhealthy to eat when, in point of fact [=in truth, in actuality], some types of fat are good for you.
▪ The two painters differ greatly in point of skill. [=the level of their skill is very different] ▪ Some people think that all fat is unhealthy to eat when, in point of fact [=in truth, in actuality], some types of fat are good for you.
make a point
◊If you make a point of doing something or make it a point to do something, you give your attention to it so that you are sure that it happens.
▪ She makes a point of treating her employees fairly. = She makes it a point to treat her employees fairly.
▪ She makes a point of treating her employees fairly. = She makes it a point to treat her employees fairly.
not to put too fine a point on it — see 1fine
on point
US : relating very well to the subject that is being discussed : accurate and appropriate
▪ His criticisms about the war were very much on point. ▪ Her message is (right) on point.
▪ His criticisms about the war were very much on point. ▪ Her message is (right) on point.
to the point
: relating to the thing that is being thought about or discussed
▪ Please keep your questions brief and to the point. — see also 1point 1c (above)
▪ Please keep your questions brief and to the point. — see also 1point 1c (above)
up to a point
— used to indicate that a statement is partly but not completely true ▪ I understand his feelings up to a point. [=to some extent] ▪ Competition is good but only up to a certain point.
