point
part of speech
noun (point, points); verb (point, points, pointed, pointing)
meaning for a pupil
1) A point is a score in a game. tree →
2) A point is a very small dot, or an exact place: a point on a line, a meeting point. tree →
3) The point is the sharp end of something: the point of a pencil. tree →
4) The point is the main idea or reason: «What is the point?» tree →
5) To point is to show with your finger. tree →
6) A point in a number is a decimal point: 3.5 is «three point five». tree →
7) A point can also mean one detail or respect in which two things are alike. tree →
sense in the lessons
In maths: points scored in games; decimal point; a dot on a line or a corner of a shape; points on a graph. In everyday life: «good point», «at this point», «point of view». In science: boiling point, freezing point. In stories: «she pointed at the door».
examples
- She scored 12 points. tree →
- Each goal is worth 3 points. tree →
- How many more points does Tom have? tree →
- Write 3 point 5 as a number. tree →
- Mark the point where the two lines cross. tree →
- Water's boiling point is 100 degrees Celsius. tree →
- It is rude to point at people. tree →
- Sharpen your pencil to a fine point. tree →
- That's a good point! tree →
- The point of the game is to have fun. tree →
note
Points are counted: add scores; «each goal is worth» gives a rate. «Point» in a number is a decimal point. Trap: «3 point 5» is 3.5, not 35. A point has no length, only a place. «Point of view» means how someone sees things. Safety: never point sharp things or toy weapons at people's faces.
In the corpora
- A speed camera photographs cars going over the limit, and the driver must pay a fine and may get points on their licence.
- Vivid example: in Leeds, Charlie points at a film box in the supermarket.
- Good bots point you to real help; sad feelings that last should be told to a trusted adult.
- A spam filter can give points to warning words and flag a message when its points reach a set number.
- Pointing the microphone away from the speakers or turning it down stops feedback.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «point» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.