Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - point

~1 n 1 »IDEA« a single fact, idea, or opinion that is part of an argument or discussion  (There was one point on which everyone agreed. | She had brought a list of points for discussion. | One important point must be borne in mind. | That's a very interesting point. | make a point (=give a fact, idea, or opinion))  (John made an interesting point about the role of the artist in society. | sb's point)  (I agree with Jane's point that we need to look more closely at the costs. | make/prove your point (=show that your idea or opinion is right))  (He brought along a handful of documents to help prove his point. | the finer points (=details that are difficult to understand))  (the finer points of political theory) 2 »MAIN MEANING/IDEA« the point the main idea in something that is said or done which gives meaning to all of it  (the point is ... (=the most important thing is))  (The point is that you should have told me where you were going. | beside the point (=not important))  (She is young, but that's beside the point. | come/get to the point (=used to tell someone to reach the most important part of what they want to say))  (I wish you would get to the point! | miss the point (=not understand the main meaning of something))  (Was I hearing him right, or had I completely missed the piont? | to the point (=saying something important about the matter being dealt with))  (The message was short and to the point.) 3 »PLACE« an exact place or position  (Line A crosses line B at point C. | a border crossing point) 4 »IN TIME/DEVELOPMENT« an exact moment, time, or stage in something's development  (at this point)  (It was at this point the surgeon realized things were going wrong. | at this point in time (=now))  (It is impossible to give a definite answer at this point in time. | starting point (=a time or stage from which something can start))  (We can use this document as a starting point for our discussions. | to the point of (=to a particular stage))  (The beams had weakened to the point of being dangerous. | if it comes to the point (=if a particular situation is reached when a decision has to be made))  (If it comes to the point, I am prepared to resign over this.) 5 boiling point/freezing point/melting point etc the temperature at which something boils, freezes, melts etc 6 the high/low point of the best or worst stage, or best or worst moment of something  (The firework display was the high point of the evening. | This was the low point of his teaching career.) 7 the point of no return a stage in a process or activity when it becomes impossible to stop it or do something different 8 be on the point of (doing) something to be going to do something very soon  (I was on the point of leaving when the phone rang.) 9 »QUALITY/FEATURE« a particular quality or feature that something or someone has  (She tried to remind herself of his good points. | What are the points to look out for when buying a new computer? | the finer points of (=the small details of quality))  (He went on to educate us all on the finer points in choosing champagne. | it has its points (=used to say that something has some good features or qualities))  (It's not a car that I would buy, but it does have its points. | selling point (=a feature that will help to sell sth))  (The main selling point of the product is its price. | strong/weak point (=a part of someone or something that is good or bad))  (Neatness is not his strong point.) 10 »PURPOSE« the purpose or aim of something  (The whole point of this experiment is to show how the chemicals react in water. | there is no point)  (I could see that there was no point in arguing with him. | not see the point)  (I couldn't see the point of trying to explain. | what is the point?)  (What was the point in working to pass exams if there were no jobs available?) 11 up to a point to some extent, but not completely  (I agree with you up to a point.) 12 »SHARP END« a sharp end of something  (a knife with a very sharp point) 13 at the point of a gun/at gun point if you do something at gun point, you do it while someone is pointing a gun towards you. 14 »GAMES/SPORT« a unit used to show the score in a game or sport  (Steve Jones is 15 points ahead. | win/lose a point)  (She lost three points for that fall. | beat sb on points/win on points (=win a boxing match by gaining more points than your opponent rather than by defeating them completely)) 15 »NUMBERS« a sign (.) used to separate a whole number from any decimals that follow it 16 »MEASURE ON A SCALE« a mark or measure on a scale  (The cost of living has risen by three percentage points.) 17 »SMALL SPOT« a very small spot  (The stars shone like tiny points of light in the sky.) 18 »DIRECTION« one of the marks on a compass that shows direction  (the points of the compass) 19 »PIECE OF LAND« a long thin piece of land that stretches out into the sea 20 »ELECTRICITY« a piece of plastic with holes in it which is fixed to a wall and to which electrical equipment can be connected 21 make a point (of doing sth) to do something deliberately so that people notice  (I always make a point of introducing new members to the chairman.) 22 »RAILWAYS« points a piece of railway track that can be moved to allow a train to cross over from one track to another 23 »DANCING« points technical the ends of a dancer's feet, on which they balance when they are dancing in ballet 24 what's the point?/there's no point used to say that you do not think something is worth doing  (I could try to help but what's the point? He never listens to anyone. | what's the point in doing sth?/there's no point in doing sth)  (There's no point in lying, I'll find out anyway.) 25 I can't see any point in used to say that you do not think something has any real purpose  (I've got no time for politics - I can't see any point in it. | I can't see any point in doing sth)  (I can't see any point in going there when we can just call instead.) 26 that's the point used when emphasizing what the main fact, idea or purpose of something is  (It costs me more but it lasts much longer, you see. That's the point. | that's the whole point)  (But that's the whole point - the richer you are, the more you should pay.) 27 that's a good point used when someone mentions an important fact or detail that you had not thought of  ("But how will you get there?" "That's a good point, I won't have the car, will I?") 28 that's not the point used to tell someone that the fact or reason they are mentioning is not at all important  (Maybe you were trying to be helpful, but that's not the point, is it?) 29 (that's) more to the point used to say that a particular fact or reason is more important than the one that was just mentioned  (Yes, she has stolen the money, but why? That's more to the point.) 30 I see your/his point used to say that you can understand why someone has a particular idea or opinion  (He thought the meeting was a waste of time, and I could see his point.) 31 I take your point used to tell someone you accept that their idea or opinion is correct  (I take your point about that picture. It does look better here.) 32 point taken used to tell someone that you accept that you were wrong and they were right about something  (OK, point taken. I won't interfere any more.) 33 you/they have a point used to say that someone has an idea or opinion that is right  (Sue thinks it would be better to go by train, and I think she has a point.) 34 not to put too fine a point on it used when you are saying something in a very direct way that might upset someone  (She was being a real pain in the ass, not to put too fine a point on it.) ~2 v 1 »SHOW STH WITH YOUR FINGER« to show someone something by holding up one of your fingers or a thin object towards it  ("Look!" said a soldier, and pointed. | John leaned over her and pointed ahead.) + a  (I could see him pointing at me and telling the other guests what I had said.) He shook his head, and pointed to a gate at the bottom of the field.  (The driver pointed with his whip.) 2 »BE AIMED« to be aimed in a particular direction  (The arrow always points north.) + a  (There were TV cameras pointing at us.)  (The hands of the clock pointed to a quarter past one.) 3 »AIM STH« to hold something so that it is aimed towards a person or thing  (point sth at)  (I wish you'd stop pointing that gun at men. | Lionel had stood up and was pointing an accusing finger at his brother.) 4 »SHOW SB WHERE TO GO« T always + adv/prep to show someone which direction they should go in  (point sb down/along/to etc)  (The receptionist pointed her down the corridor to the manager's office. | He pointed Mrs Morel to a large armchair.) 5 »WALLS/BUILDINGS« to put new cement between the bricks of a wall 6 point your toes to stretch the ends of your feet downwards when you are dancing 7 point the finger at to blame someone or say that they have done something wrong  (I don't want to point the finger at anyone in particular - I think we are all to blame for this.) 8 point the way a) to show the direction that something is in  (A line of buildings pointed the way to the village.) b) to show how something could change or develop successfully  (We feel that this report points the way forward for the water industry.) point sth out phr v 1 to show something to someone by pointing at it  (They walked into the car park and Cook pointed out his new car. | My mother pointed him out to me.) 2 to tell someone something that they did not already know or had not thought about  (He pointed out the dangers of setting out without proper equipment. | point out that)  (The officer pointed out that the story was somewhat hard to believe. | point sth out to sb)  (Mr Rogers had pointed out to us that we should keep well away from the lake.) point to sth phr v to mention something because you think it is important  (Many politicians have pointed to the need for a written constitution.) point to/towards sb/sth phr v if something points to a fact, it makes it seem very likely that it is true  (All the evidence pointed to Blake as the murderer) point sth up phr v formal .to make something seem more important or more noticeable  (The latest economic figures point up the failure of the government's policies.)